On Tuesday, Sam Dion got his land.
The Haines Junction man applied for a two-hectare parcel before Christmas 2006.
In early summer, after his application was approved by the Yukon Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment Board, government officials assured Dion his project would get final approval within 90 days.
It didn’t happen.
In October, government officials told Dion the government’s case with Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation was holding things up.
Dion received a letter and an e-mail stating, “because of the recent decision made by the courts — the Paulsen decision — we cannot approve your subdivision application at this time.”
Energy Mines and Resources minister Archie Lang told Dion the same thing, face to face.
Then, Premier Dennis Fentie denied it.
“I haven’t turned down any applications, nor has the government, based on the Paulson case,” he said during his community tour in Whitehorse.
Anyone with problems getting land should come see the minister, said Fentie.
Dion did just that.
His application is now before the commissioner, awaiting the final nod.
“It’s basically approved,” said Dion.
Although it’s too late in the year to put in the driveway, Dion plans to start clearing the lot right away.