More lands
branch shenanigans
Little Teslin Lake is a small(er) lake west of Johnson’s Crossing. It has no creeks, in or out, and is not very deep.
It contains a threatened species of fish, the Squanga Whitefish.
There are nine developed lots on this lake.
Over the past few years, YTG lands has made some overtures to develop as many as 40 additional lots on this closed lake.
Recently YTG lands had an “unveiling” meeting in Teslin to display plans for 100, or so, new lots in Teslin and 19 new lots on Little Teslin Lake.
With only four days notice, it was very difficult for Little Teslin Lake property owners to attend this out-of-town lunch meeting on a workday.
After hearing from us, lands branch director Lyle Henderson assured us we would be kept informed of progress.
Last week another public meeting was held, and again Little Teslin Lake property owners were not informed.
In a media interview, Henderson stated they did not receive any negative comments at last week’s public meeting.
Is it possible that the absence of negative comments was the result of failing to invite or inform the property owners?
I know he has a job to do, but this process is really starting to smell.
Larry Leigh
Whitehorse
Not a nine-to-fiver
I find myself in the unusual predicament of agreeing with Richard Mostyn on something — the reduction in the legislature’s sitting hours.
When a person runs for office, that person should count the costs — all costs, including the fact that you are at the beck and call of 1,500 or more constituents, and they demand answers.
Being an MLA is not a nine-to-five job.
I wonder if MLAs Pat Duncan, Lorraine Peter and Elaine Taylor realize there are women — lots of them — who work at entry-level jobs that take them well past 6 p.m.
Finding a suitable babysitter can be all but impossible, as most organized daycares close at 6 p.m. or earlier.
I told my sister I don’t envy her, if her husband gets sick, he gets a day off with pay. (He is a union member.)
If I get sick I get a day off without pay.
If my sister gets sick she still has to get everyone off to work and school.
She still has to look after her grandsons all day.
Everyone still expects a hot meal when they get home, before she drives them wherever. That’s the situation many women face.
Maybe the men of our legislature should form a men’s caucus and claw the hours back to 3:30 p.m. so they don’t miss the hockey playoffs at 4 p.m.
After all, having to watch the replay instead of the live game could pose a hardship.
Running for office is beginning to scare me.
I keep trying to tell myself it is possible to maintain personal integrity and to put the needs of my constituents first.
That is all they really ask.
The women’s caucus doesn’t seem to grasp that.
Dale Worsfold
Watson Lake
Public input
is essential
Open letter to Premier Dennis Fentie, re failure of consultation process:
We were surprised and very disappointed by the following, recent events.
On April 1st, your government announced that it had identified one million cubic meters of timber for harvest in the Haines Junction area
Further, it then advertised a request for proposals of this amount to the industry.
Up to this point, you and your government made numerous promises to deal with forest-management planning for the Champagne and Aishihik traditional territory in an open and transparent manner.
Initially, your government facilitated two public information sessions with the main message given that public input is essential.
As a result, we expected further public meetings to update and involve residents in the planning process.
We expected to receive information about the various cutting scenarios, to especially discuss cutting levels, and to be consulted on the draft integrated landscape plan before timber was to be marketed to industry.
Given the outcome however, it appears residents of the Haines Junction area were kept largely uninformed throughout the process.
We would like to request that the Yukon government pause in its marketing efforts of our local timber and allow our community a review period to comment on the landscape plan and all documents that led to the determination of the cutting level of one million cubic meters of wood.
We also hope you would be open to changes and amendments to the integrated landscape plan, the timber supply scenarios and the final harvest level option based on public comments received.
We are looking forward to hearing back from you in this matter.
Valerie Drummond, Wolf Riedl, Sharyn Riedl, Caroline Hayes, Louise Breneman, Henry Henkel, Peggy Godson, Richard Godson, Brent Liddle, Bruce Binder, Terry Berezan, Millie Hall, Andy Hall, Erika Biondelli, Martin Biondelli, Rosemary Buck, Dieter Gade, Rita Jux, Walter Jux, Sally Wright, Elizabeth Anderson, Marguerite Heming, Julie-Ann Bauer, Brigitte Geske, Deb Osborne, Andrew Lawrence, Laura Gorecki, Scott Stewart
Haines Junction
Dancing students
get big break
This July, eight senior dancers from the Northern Lights School of Dance will participate in the 10th annual Dance and the Child International Conference in The Hague, Netherlands.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these young dancers.
They will have the rare privilege of observing, learning from, and performing with dancers from 12 other countries.
Our Yukon students (the only dancers attending from Canada) will also have the opportunity to work with one of the world’s most renowned choreographers of modern dance, in preparing a special piece that they will perform at the closing ceremonies.
The dance students are busy raising funds for this trip. Please show them your support by stopping by M&M Meats in Whitehorse on Saturday May 27th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Your purchase of a burger or hotdog and a drink (for a minimum donation of $4) will help send these dancers on this amazing journey.
If you can’t make it to the barbeque but would like to make a donation, please call the dance studio at 668-6683.
Janet Patterson
Whitehorse