Recently, I’ve been contemplating the potential danger of the Yukon Party’s imposition of its own plan for the Peel, over the democratically consulted final recommended plan of the commission, to undermine and weaken civil society.
Civil society is evident in a populace that is actively engaged, as individuals, groups and NGOs, in the guidance of the governance of their territory. Conversely, it means a government that seeks out society’s opinions and concerns through discussion and consultation for direction in their governance, and the formulation of those opinions and concerns into policy.
There is no doubt the final recommended plan of the commission is the quintessence of a strong and functioning civil society. I don’t think there has ever been such a plan for the Yukon, so inclusive of all sectors of society and forward thinking.
And thus it is even more shameful that our Yukon Party government is ignorant of, or couldn’t care less about, the potential damage their dictatorial act can have on the entire process of a functioning civil society.
Well I was elated to see at last month’s demonstration in support for the Peel that civil society is alive and well here in the Yukon. In fact, there is a very strong core of support for fair play and what is right embedded within our society, represented by all walks of life.
And it is strengthening and spreading.
It is just such a shame that civil society has to be used in protest of our government, to implore them to listen to our desires and concerns, and to work with and for a strong civil society.
For the life of me, I can’t imagine where the members of the Yukon Party ever got the idea they could govern with such a stunning disrespect for the electorate. They must have been the bullies on the school bus, taking kids lunch money and the likes.
They would do well to realize that the Yukon legislature belongs to the people of the Yukon. It is not their private enclave, in which to hide behind locked doors and dictate their own ideologically driven policy. They will never engage us, because they know they do not have a case. They know that we, the majority, are right.
Come next election, they will have to come out from under their rocks and face us. They will have no choice. And I know I am not the only one that will be at as many campaign events as possible, to confront them, to hear their pathetic rationale and expose their paucity of reason one last time as the bullies are voted off the school bus for good.
Jim Borisenko
Tagish Lake