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Yukon Party government needs honest consultation

Yukon Party government needs honest consultation I would first like to applaud Yukon Energy for involving the public in planning for future needs, but doing it all within a week and in the middle of August, when many Yukoners are on holidays, is not the

I would first like to applaud Yukon Energy for involving the public in planning for future needs, but doing it all within a week and in the middle of August, when many Yukoners are on holidays, is not the way to do it.

Here we go again. The Yukon Party government is asking Yukoners for input on future Energy needs and have given us a week to think about it and to come to their public meeting on Aug. 14 to discuss it.

On Aug. 7, I received in the mail a very crafty, colour brochure briefly laying out the pros and cons of different energy sources with very little documentation of the real facts. If we are to look at long-term sustainable alternatives, we need much more than a chart that lays out these alternatives, and grades them, according to whose measure?

If we are to believe that liquefied natural gas (LNG) is the preferred choice of the Yukon Energy Corporation, then how do they justify sustainability? LNG is a finite resource and will run out eventually, just as it has in Inuvik where they now have to truck in LNG as the gas wells have gone dry. In order to use LNG for heating and electricity, a processing plant needs to be built. Who is going to invest that kind of money to service a population of 35,000 people? There is also the fact that if LNG is trucked from the south, it needs to be kept at minus 140 C, and this requires energy use. If true costs are then evaluated, then diesel becomes closer to the cost of using LNG.

If we are truly honest about our energy needs for the future, we need to look at a combination of sources to provide electricity for the next 50 years. Let’s be honest with Yukoners and truly look at long-term planning rather than a quick fix, so we can service the often, short-lived mining ventures.

Yukoners are invited to a public meeting on Aug. 14 at 7 p.m. , Westmark Room 5, to discuss helping to shape Yukon Energy’s 20-year resource plan.

The Yukon government is continuing to encourage the energy industry to come to the Yukon and drill for oil and gas without having the appropriate legislation and regulations in place to ensure maintenance of our pristine environment. The department promised Yukoners that a review of legislation and regulations would take place this summer.

When is this review going to commence?

Lately, the Yukon oil and gas branch has changed the term “fracking” to “stimulation.” The new term, “stimulation,” employs the same secret toxic chemicals that are injected into the ground causing massive pollution of water sources regardless if it takes place in the Eagle Plains area or in the Whitehorse Trough.

It has been brought to my attention that the oil and gas company currently drilling in the Eagle Plains area has not applied to YESAB to commence such actions as fracking. We, as Yukoners, must not allow this to happen as it is a known fact that extensive pollution of water and land takes place when this occurs.

There will be a gathering of Yukoners concerned about democracy and/or oil and gas on Aug. 12 at 5 p.m. at LePage Park. Come and express your concerns and discuss what you believe honest consultation is. Bring an item of food to share.

Donald J. Roberts

Whitehorse/Body