If we want a truly sustainable future in the Yukon, we have to accept the limits of our ecosystems and protect them from destruction. Failing to do so will destroy the very life support that we depend on.
Contrary to that, the Yukon Party is all money, speculation, big corporations, disrespect for First Nations and disregard for our still-functioning ecosystems.
First Nation leaders and other people are sick and tired of the ignorance portrayed by the Yukon Party. They have reached out in good faith, only to be ignored on a continual basis. People are tired of their approach to reject almost everything that would protect our natural wilderness areas.
That, in essence, means they disregard all activities associated with large, intact natural places, like First Nations’ rights, hunting and fishing, trapping, outfitting, wilderness tourism, etc. These activities were on the land before the big “boom” and big corporate “occupy-everything” activities started. Therefore they need to be considered!
To do that, we have an urgent need for land-use planning to create certainty for industry and other Yukoners.
We also need to work on a protected-areas strategy and accept the final recommended plan of the Peel Watershed planning commission.
But once again, all these important steps and accomplishments were totally ignored and rejected by the Yukon Party, with hidden agendas and lip service thrown in to suit their strategy.
Even some of their own members and other political figures have sharply criticized the Yukon Party’s “backroom deal” politics. The Yukon Party philosophy seems to be that whatever brings in the fastest and highest dollar figures automatically earns the right to raise hell with everything else.
By now it should be clear they cannot be trusted. There are far better choices than the Yukon Party, if you value jobs, co-operation and our true wilderness heritage.
Bernie Berube
Watson Lake