I am glad that the Yukon Party is taking credit for the well-being of us Yukoners. You can also take credit for what you have done to Keno City.
The return of mining to our area under Yukon Party guardianship has put a mill and tailings piles in Keno, surrounded our community with ore-haul roads, permitted a new mine portal mere metres from our homes, and a new mine coming soon -“Flame and Moth”- which, if the land stripping is any indication, will end up in our ballpark.
Tourism businesses have closed, complaints pile up from visitors who have had their stay here ruined, long-term residents are leaving the community, and in most cases, the Yukon entirely.
But the fun doesn’t stop there, very soon what has been done here will be used to justify an equally stupid plan in a neighbourhood near you!
Want to put a mine portal a couple of hundred feet from your house? No problem - it was done successfully in Keno!
Want to drive people from their homes and destroy small businesses that are in your way without compensating anybody for anything? Just put a claim on it and the Yukon Party will sweep it all under the carpet for you.
So while the Yukon Party is celebrating our new prosperity, just remember the people who are paying for this prosperity with their homes and businesses. We’re bearing all of the risks involved in turning Keno City into an industrial site and receive no benefit from anyone, mining or government.
Keno City has always been and remains a staunch supporter of responsible mining. Keno also has among its residents one of Yukon’s largest concentrations of people with skilled mining experience.
Instead of being considered a vital asset to this project, they were completely ignored. Instead, all attention was given to the village of Mayo, 60 kilometres from here, and the Nacho Nyak Dun.
It is the actions of Alexco Resources here and the Yukon Party’s spineless approach to representing its own population that is giving the whole industry a bad name. Uncertainty is no good for anyone, Yukoners or the mining industry.
So, Premier Darrell Pasloski, now that the Yukon Party has finally shown its true agenda, let’s see what Yukoners think of you now. Call an election and put this all to the ultimate test.
Failing that, I encourage any member of the Yukon Party who sees anything wrong with what is being allowed to happen in the Yukon, to take a stand and walk across the floor, or sit as an Independent and tip the balance of power. A minority government might bring some real discussion as to how responsible mining should be developed in the Yukon.
The ministers responsible for this miscarriage of justice can always seek employment with the chamber of mines, where they can continue ruining the lives of their friends and neighbours for fun and profit and not be accountable to anyone.
Jim Milley
Keno City