Yukon “land issues” are screaming hot!
Think not? Duh, try thinking again!
Now that we’re in the midst of the territorial election, maybe it’s high time voters actually take some initiative to reflect on how land issues in the territory affect them, and how their (the voters’) decisions are affecting the public, and to consider the record of the result of the last two elections when it comes to land issues in the territory.
What about the land issues of protecting the Peel Watershed?
Just take a look at the tents, which sprang up like mushrooms in the spring on the lawn of the legislature, growing due to lack of affordable housing, which is due to the non-availability of land.
What about ATV land abuse? What about the rights of responsible ATV users on the land?
The high price of land?
Look at all the court cases on land issues. Imagine lands branch burning down every fricking wilderness shack that could ever provide the basic protection against the elements, which might mean the difference between life and death to someone unfortunate enough to be stranded on the land in the Yukon wilderness, when, maybe say, when it’s around how about minus 40? Yep, just imagine.
Hey, how about the unbelievable story of the couple living in Faro who were not only evicted from their own titled land that they’ve payed taxes on? They were effectively closed down from being able to operate and build the infrastructure for a wilderness tours business in the territory, designed to be in place to lure tourists from afar to come to the Yukon, visit, have the “larger than life” wilderness experience in the Yukon, on the land and to spend their money, which in turn, for other businesses in the Yukon territory, generates revenue?
What about the spruce beetle-killed forest lands around Haines Junction?
And hey, how about the “Darragh decision” and the non-support of the Yukon Party regarding the Yukon Municipal Act when, it came to the municipal act and land issues?
Do any of the political parties in the Yukon have the wherewithal or cajones to make a “larger than life” commitment to reworking the Lands Act as part of their political platform? Does anyone in the public even care?
Did you ever possibly dare to think or even try to imagine that radiation emanating from Fukushima Japan will not end up affecting Yukon land?
But then, hey, that’s another story, isn’t it?
One might ask: What will be the best outcome for the upcoming fall election and the hot land issues?
Answer: Simple. A minority government with an effective opposition.
G. Bemis
Whitehorse