Open letter to Energy, Mines and Resources Minister Brad Cathers:
I want to thank you for taking the time to listen to the many concerned voices of your fellow Yukoners.It’s a sign of strength to be able to reconsider one’s plans, especially being a politician at the centre of public attention.I think the time has come now, that we start bridging our differences.
It’s not about being for or against development or being for or against mining.The time has come now, to focus on our responsibility and to focus on respect for ourselves, for each other, for the land, for the animals and for future generations.
You did receive uncountable creative, intelligent and eloquent letters and comments opposed to the planned oil and gas exploration/development. They spoke not only about opinions, they also showed that the people you’re representing want to take part in political decisions.
While reading these comments and letters, I suppose you realized that the people love the place they live in and that the Yukon is close to their hearts.When I try walking in your shoes, I imagine it must be quite motivating to be a representative of people who want to engage in political debate.
I further imagine that it must be actually satisfying doing political work not far away in an ivory tower but instead with public attention and participation.
And maybe you’re even a bit proud of your fellow Yukoners, who seem to be well educated, bright, engaging, caring and at the same time almost always fair.So I’d like to encourage you to take further steps towards a democratic process.
I’d like to invite you to be creative, to find new ways in involving the public when important decisions have to be made. You did show us that you have the courage to alter once-made political plans so then why not put the Peel watershed commission plan back on the table?And let us continue together - you, Premier Darrell Pasloski, the other MLAs and us, the people - to work towards a vision of a Yukon, where not only the present generation but also future generations can live a life in reasonable wealth and in the contentment a fairly unspoiled wilderness can give.
Elke Huber
Tagish