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Yukon Legislative Assembly
Whitehorse, Yukon
Tuesday, October 26, 2021 — 1:00 p.m.
Speaker: I w= ill now call the House to order.
We wil= l proceed at this time with prayers.
Prayers
Withdrawal of motions
Speaker:=
195;The Chair wishes to infor=
m the
House of changes that have been made to the Order Paper. The following moti=
on
has been removed from the Order Paper at the request of the member: Motion
No. 153, standing in the name of the Member for Copperbelt South.
Daily
Routine
Speaker:=
195;We will proceed at this t=
ime with
the Order Paper.
Are there any introductions of visitor=
s?
Are there any tributes?
TRIBUTES
In recognition of Learning Disabilities Awareness Month
Hon. M=
s. McLean: Today, I rise on behalf o=
f our
Yukon Liberal government to pay tribute to Learning Disabilities Awareness
Month.
Learning Disabilities Awareness Month =
is an
opportunity to increase awareness and reduce stigma about the diverse learn=
ing
needs or differing abilities of children and adults.
Some c= hildren and adults face challenges when it comes to lifelong learning. According to= a survey by Statistics Canada, 3.2 percent of Canadian children have a learning disability, and more than half a million Canadian adults live with= a learning disability, making it more challenging for them to learn in universities, colleges, and on the job.
The Le= arning Disabilities Association of Canada notes that learning diversity ranges in severity, but often interferes with organizational, oral language, reading,= writing, and mathematical skills. Social perception and social interaction can also = be difficult. Learning disabilities are lifelong. The challenges faced can be impacted by an individual’s environment and the demands that they experience in their life, whether at school or in their personal life or in their career.
You mi= ght not be aware that a friend, family member, or colleague has learning challenges or= the extra challenges that they are facing when it comes to keeping up at school= or at work. It is all too common that for many — to view those with dive= rse learning needs — this is how they look at them: that they just aren’t trying hard enough, that they aren’t naturally intellect= ual, that they aren’t supported in their learning by their parents or guar= dians, and that there are cultural and language barriers that are challenging their understanding. This is simply not true. Often, individuals with diverse learning needs have to work harder than most to interact in their everyday lives.
We all= have a responsibility to recognize and acknowledge that valuing learning and provi= ding specialized supports can be a lifelong challenge for some. In our education system, we have acknowledged that we can do better to support individuals w= ith diverse learning needs and challenges. In the final report of the Review of Inclusive and Special Educat= ion in the Yukon, released this past June, we see that there are many stories = from students, families, Yukon First Nations, and partners in our communities of challenges when it comes to accessing the proper supports. We hear their vo= ices and acknowledge that there is more work to do to make sure that children in= our society with diverse learning needs are supported.
We are= fortunate in Yukon that we already have dedicated individuals and organizations that = are committed to compassionately supporting children and adults facing learning challenges, including amazing teachers, learning assistant teachers, educational assistants, and other school support staff, health care workers= , and early learning educators who support children from a young age: the Learning Disabilities Association of Yukon, Inclusion Yukon, Autism Yukon, the Child Development Centre, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Society Yukon, and, of course, Y= ukon Learn.
Yukon = First Nation governments and the Yukon First Nation Education Directorate are also doing excellent work to support First Nation citizen and youth. It takes family, friends, and community to support each other, to succeed, and to lift up th= ose who are vulnerable in our society.
Today = I ask that we all reflect on the challenges that those living with diverse learning ne= eds face and acknowledge their strength and resiliency. Thank you to those who dedicate their lives to supporting children and adults with diverse learning needs. This month is about you and making sure that you feel a part of a community that values the diversity of all learners.
Applause
Ms. Van Bibber: I rise on behalf of the Yukon Party Official Opposition to recognize October = as Learning Disabilities Awareness Month in Canada.
This m= onth is raising the awareness but, all year, it is important to be mindful and understanding of the way that others learn. In Canada, a learning disabilit= y is the fastest growing type of disability that is not related to aging. To lea= rn or understand reverts to an individual’s ability to store, to process= , or to produce information. So many learning disabilities relate to specific challenges in the school system — reading, writing, or math skills. Studies show that persons with learning disabilities have average or above average intelligence but have a disability that affects their way of thinki= ng and/or reasoning.
Learni= ng challenges usually present themselves in grade school, and if identified, the issues c= an be addressed. When the disability is missed, at times, one may be labeled as “lazy” or “incompetent”. This, in turn, may cause t= he person to hide their disability and struggle in silence. This can lead to lifelong struggles, dropping out of school, unemployment, and poverty, to n= ame a few. This is true in any setting and not just limited to school or work. = From children to adults, if we are aware of a learning difference, show compassi= on and don’t be so quick to judge.
There = are other types of learning disabilities, such as: visual perception deficits or trou= ble with hand-eye coordination; non-verbal learning disabilities, which refer to disabilities in understanding body language, tone of voice, or social cues; language or auditory processing disorder; or trouble processing spoken lang= uage or sounds.
The cu= rrent pandemic has heightened and highlighted the challenge facing those with learning disabilities. Lack of support staff, missed school days, and remote learning all contribute to a more anxious and unsettling time for those struggling to cope.
We wou= ld like to give a special shout-out to the Learning Disabilities Association of Yukon,= or LDAY, as they are dedicated to increasing the awarene= ss of learning differences and support for all ages — children, youth, and adults. The work that they do within our territory is critical for all Yukoners. We would like to recognize LDAY’s continued dedication to supportive learning opportunities.
I leav= e you with a quote from George Evans: “Every student can learn, just not on the = same day or in the same way.”
Applause
Ms. Tredger: I rise on behalf of the Yukon NDP to pay tribute to Learning Disabilities Awareness Month. There are many Yukoners with learning disabilities, working every day to advocate for change and to support their peers. They are suppo= rted by many more Yukoners who are working to make sure that children and adults with learning disabilities have the supports they need. They are working to make the Yukon more accessible for everyone. Thank you for doing this hard = and important work.
I woul= d like to highlight two initiatives taking place here in the Yukon. Yukon Learn has recognized that, as we moved to an online world during the pandemic, there = are people being left behind. If reading is hard, something as important as ordering your medication refills online or booking your COVID vaccine becom= es impossible. Through their workshops and one‑on-one tutoring, they’ve stepped up to support Yukoners with navigating an online worl= d.
I woul= d also like to talk about the Learning Disabilities Association of Yukon’s employer workshops. These workshops teach employers how they can adapt their workplaces to support all of their employees. I love this shift from putting the burden on individuals to adapt and instead thinking about how we can ma= ke our world more accessible.
Actual= ly, I often think about this here in the Legislature, which is not a particularly accessible place. We talk in language that is dense and formal. We communic= ate entirely in speeches, which are often pretty long. What are we doing to make sure that all Yukoners can be part of our democracy? I would like to challe= nge all of us, as we advocate and make decisions, to consider how those decisio= ns will affect Yukoners with learning disabilities. I hope that we can all work together to make the Yukon a more supportive and accessible place. <= /p>
Applause
In recognition of Canadian Patient Safety Week
Hon. Ms. McPhee: I rise today on behalf of the Yukon Liberal government to acknowledge this we= ek as Canadian Patient Safety Week. Safe patient care is a priority for all Yu= kon health providers and all who help them to deliver safe and quality health services across the territory. Canadian Patient Safety Week is about acknowledging and thanking everyone involved in the delivery of all patient care. This includes: health care professionals, support staff, decision-mak= ers, patients, clients, and friends and family.
The te= rm “patient” includes anyone who receives care or services in a variety of settings. Every patient experience should be safe. Canadian Pati= ent Safety Week encourages everyone to advocate for themselves by listening, as= king questions, and talking with their health care providers and also to think a= bout patient safety issues and solutions.
The Yu= kon is fortunate to have a strong network of compassionate health care providers dedicated to delivering a safe experience for everyone who needs care. From acute and emergency care to our community clinics, pharmacies, long-term ca= re, home care, and community nursing teams, thousands of people work together e= very day to keep Yukoners safe and cared for.
This year’s theme poses a question: “Who knows? Essential care partn= ers do.” It is designed to raise awareness of those individuals who may n= ot be traditional health care providers but who play a critical role in patient recovery and experience. Equally important for safe patient care are essent= ial care partners or support persons. Much more than a visitor, essential care partners play a critical role in patients’ mental and physical health= and well-being. They are vital team members, and they provide consistent suppor= t to a loved one throughout their experience.
As par= t of our response to COVID-19 over the last 20 months, our hospitals and all of Yukon’s health facilities have had to restrict some visitors while ma= king sure that essential care partners or support persons could safely remain physically present to support their loved ones as partners in care. The role taken on by these folks is extremely beneficial for all patients, clients, = and care providers in sustaining a safe and excellent care experience. Essential care partners advocate for patients and work with providers to help navigate health care journeys, which can come with many challenges.
Today,= we must all recognize and deeply appreciate the invaluable role that essential care partners and support persons play in helping family members and friends. Raising awareness and recognizing the importance of Canadian Patient Safety Week means that we must acknowledge the work that essential care partners d= o to ensure that we have the best and safest care possible. They are a critical element of our successful patient care.
Thank = you for your dedication to supporting patients’ health and well-being.=
Applause
Mr. Cathers: Thank yo= u, Mr. Speaker. I rise today on behalf of the Yukon Party Official Opposition to recognize Canadian Patient Safety Week. This important campaign began as an initiativ= e by the Canadian Patient Safety Institute to focus attention on improving patie= nt safety and quality of care. It is important not only for those involved in health care delivery to be aware of patient safety; people should also be a= ware and understand the importance of talking to their health care providers, as= king questions, and ensuring that they have a full understanding of benefits, ri= sks, and health care options. Patient safety has always been important, but it h= as come into the public spotlight even more during the pandemic.
While = we were fortunate to avoid large outbreaks in long-term care facilities here in the Yukon, the tragic loss of life in long-term care homes in other parts of Ca= nada during the COVID-19 pandemic was a very sobering reminder of the critical importance of ensuring patient safety in our health care facilities, especi= ally in continuing care facilities and our hospitals. We recognize that addition= al measures have been necessary and will be necessary to ensure patient safety during the pandemic.
Throug= hout the pandemic, our health care professionals have been bearing a heavy load at times, and we appreciate the additional efforts that they are taking to keep people, especially patients, safe during the pandemic, including extra handwashing, use of personal protective equipment in more situations, opera= ting vaccine clinics and COVID testing facilities, and getting vaccinated themselves.
Thank = you to all those health care professionals who go above and beyond to ensure that pati= ent safety is at the core of what they do each and every day.
Applause
Ms. Blake: I rise on behalf of the Yukon NDP to tribute Canadian Patient Safety Week.
As the= momentum for promoting best practices in patient safety has grown, so has the participation in Canadian Patient Safety Week. Canadian Patient Safety Week= is relevant to anyone who engages with our health care system — provider= s, patients, and citizens. I am reminded of when I worked in the hospital as a First Nation liaison and in my role as the non-insured health benefits navigator. In both of these positions, I saw how patients were protected by= a community of people, from nurses to support workers, doctors, and social workers. It was truly a collaborative approach to care. This community of supports worked together to ensure that patients remain at the centre of all conversations and planning for their care — a community of people who know and understand the importance of asking, listening, and talking.
To say= that, it sounds simple, but to put these values into practice is not that easy, especially in complicated or difficult situations. For us as legislators and the partners in the provision of health care, we too need to ask, listen, a= nd talk when hearing from constituents about their health concerns and from he= alth care professionals and providers when they come to us with their concerns. =
Thank = you to the Canadian Patient Safety Institute for their continued work of bringing pati= ent safety to the forefront of best health practices. I hope this day reminds a= ll of us that patients must be at the centre of our health care system and that their safety is paramount.
Applause
Speaker: Are= there any returns or documents for tabling?
Are th= ere any reports of committees?
Are th= ere any petitions to be presented?
PETITIONS
Petition No. 4
Ms. McLeod: It is my honour to table the following petition today.
To the= Yukon Legislative Assembly, this petition of the undersigned shows that the citiz= ens of Watson Lake and the nearby area want a continuing care facility in Watson Lake so that citizens do not have to move away to Whitehorse when they requ= ire additional care. Therefore, the undersigned ask that the Yukon Legislative Assembly urge the Government of Yukon to commence planning for the construc= tion of a continuing care facility in Watson Lake and to begin this process with= the Minister of Health and Social Services, holding a public meeting in the fal= l of 2021 to discuss it with local residents.
This p= etition, Mr. Speaker, is signed by 527 residents.
Speaker: Are= there any further petitions to be presented?
Are th= ere any bills to be introduced?
Are th= ere any notices of motions?
Notices
of Motions
Mr. Dixon: I rise to give notice of the following motion:
THAT i= t is the opinion of this House that the Deputy Premier should resign from Cabinet du= e to the mishandling of sexual abuse at Hidden Valley Elementary School. =
Ms. Blake: I rise to give notice of the following motion:
THAT t= his House urges the Government of Yukon to investigate and address the issues with the phone and e‑mail communication system that the Old Crow Health Centre= is experiencing.
Speaker: Is = there a statement by a minister?
Ministerial
Statement
Copper Ridge Place renova= tion
Hon. Ms. McPhee: As many Yukoners know, Copper Ridge Place is a long-term care facility in Whitehorse with 96 beds. It was opened back in 2002 by the then-Liberal government, so it was time for some upgrades to continue to en= sure the comfort and safety of residents today.
Renova= tions were resident-focused. We made upgrades in the interior courtyards to ensure the safety of the surfaces. This will prevent serious injuries for residents who have balance issues. A real-time location system was installed for those wi= th way-finding difficulty. These Yukoners may benefit from an option to move m= ore freely around the building without having to stay in a smaller secure area.=
We als= o made upgrades to the infection prevention and control protocols. This is always important, but even more so with the COVID-19 in our territory. These updat= es included adding hand hygiene sinks and very specific cleaning of the HVAC system.
We als= o made improvements to the fire alarm system as well as the nurse call system. Additionally, we replaced the hot water tanks, which have a shelf life of eight to 10 years,= and made repairs to the main kitchen. Unlike a home kitchen, this kitchen serves three meals a day to 96 residents, 365 days a year. There is no day off, no= take‑out Fridays. It has to be in pristine working order.
All of= these renovations make the living experience safer and more enjoyable for those in our care. Seniors and elders are our most valuable community members, and we must support and protect them. The importance of caring for and protecting seniors has never been more clear than it has been over the last 19 months.= We have watched other jurisdictions struggle to protect their seniors in long-= term care. Hundreds of cases of COVID-19 invaded one care home after another, resulting in too many deaths. We were extremely fortunate that we have not = been in a similar situation, having worked very hard to manage this pandemic. We take great pride in our long-term care homes. We work hard to ensure that t= hey continuously meet the standards that we and the residents who live there can enjoy and find comfort in.
That i= s why the recent renovation work at Copper Ridge Place is something to be acknowledge= d. I have to thank the residents and their family members for being so accommoda= ting while we made these upgrades and to thank staff who worked through the renovations. This building makeover means that the well-loved facility can remain in good shape to serve residents for many years to come.
Mr. Cathers: Mr. Speaker, this Liberal government has become infamous for using ministerial statement= s to reduce the amount of time available for debate on the budget and legislatio= n, often making reannouncements of press releases. While we, of course, support investing in the Yukon’s continuing care facilities, this is another ministerial statement that should have just been a press release. Using a ministerial statement to talk about cleaning and HVAC systems is a bit laughable, Mr. Speaker. Does talking about that kind of maintenance be= long in either a ministerial statement or a press release?
There = are a number of other important issues that the Deputy Premier could have been focusing on, such as the fact that over 2,000 Yukoners don’t have a family doctor and she has done nothing to address it. She could reinstate t= he physician recruitment position in her department and work with the Yukon Medical Association on increasing recruitment and retention initiatives to convince more family doctors to move to the Yukon; she could be working on filling rural vacancies for mental health, as we know that the mental welln= ess and substance use hubs in the communities are short-staffed; or she could follow through on the commitment to help develop a new secure medical unit = at Whitehorse General Hospital. Psychiatrists, patients, and other health professionals w= ould like to know what is going on and why the Liberal government has delayed wo= rk on that project for years. The former Liberal Health and Social Services minister said that the new secure medical unit will be completed next year,= but we’ve heard nothing from the government since then.
In add= ition, parents who have kids attending Hidden Valley Elementary School would like = to hear from the Deputy Premier about why she failed to notify parents of the sexual misconduct in late 2019 when she learned about it, what actions, if = any, she took after learning of the situation, why she didn’t inform her colleague, the new Minister of Education, about the serious situation, and = why she continues to refuse to answer reasonable questions about it and her rol= e in it. Yukoners are petitioning and pleading with this minister to address her involvement in it. The Deputy Premier publicly claims to be willing to meet with parents, but as she knows very well, parents who are trying to book a meeting with her are getting the runaround from her staff. One parent who e= ‑mailed her didn’t even get a reply from the minister’s office until the Child and Youth Advocate got involved, requesting a reply to that parent’s e‑mail.
Parent= s tell me that they asked for a meeting in November with the Deputy Premier and the current Minister of Education. They were promised a reply. Has the Deputy Premier confirmed that meeting, or is this another broken promise of this government and this minister? Maybe she can finally address these important questions the next time she is on her feet.
While = we acknowledge that renovations at Copper Ridge Place are a good thing, the minister should address some of these serious issues that I have outlined w= ith respect to her department and her own actions.
Ms. Tredger: Thank you for the chance to respond to this statement. As my colleague has noted,= it is surprising that we have a ministerial statement on renovations of one facility, but the statement does give us the chance to talk about long-term care in the Yukon.
I am v= ery proud that, under an NDP government, Copper Ridge Place was built, despite the objections of the Liberals at the time, who then cut the ribbon to open the facility. We have heard today that the government is keeping it in usable condition. I should certainly hope that our long-term care facilities have up-to-date hot water tanks and fire alarms, but I guess that it is good to = have it clarified.
When w= e talk about the bigger picture of long-term care facilities in the Yukon, though, Macaulay Lodge comes to mind. It has been sitting empty for years. In the Spring Sitting, we were told that it will be demolished so that the land ca= n be put to good use, perhaps for housing, but that there is no timeline because= of — and I quote: “… competing priorities”. We suggest that making land available for housing should always be a priority, especia= lly land that is owned by Yukon government, with a building that continues to s= it unoccupied.
But bo= th of these examples only address facilities in Whitehorse. Long-term care is an issue outside of the capital. Folks across the territory want to age in pla= ce, in the communities they live in, and not need to relocate to Whitehorse as = they get older. So, that brings us to Yukoners who are trying to age in place. T= he government’s aging-in-place plan says that Yukoners will be supported, but despite the best efforts of the people who work in home care, seniors a= re still struggling to get the supports that they need to stay in their homes. This is a territory-wide struggle. Every community in the Yukon needs acces= s to home care supports, so we remain optimistic that the Yukon government will partner with Yukon University to see programs developed that support rural Yukoners to build on their skills and continue to support their communities= .
Hon. Ms. McPhee: Yukoners deserve to know about their long-term care facilities= . Our seniors and elders are such an important part of our society. They are the = ones who created the foundation of this community, and it is on their shoulders = that we stand. We must ensure that they are comfortable and receive compassionate and modern care. That is why the renovations at Copper Ridge Place matter. = It is not just about modernizing systems and appliances; it is about ensuring meaningful and safer ways of living for Yukoners in their golden years.
This g= overnment cares deeply about improvements to home care services for our seniors, and = we have taken action to demonstrate this. We have introduced the home first program, which assists seniors to obtain enhanced home care that can support their return to home. We have opened the reablement unit at the Thomson Cen= tre for the same purpose. This unit provides people‑specific programming = to increase and maintain Yukoners’ independent ability to return home an= d is seeing great success.
Also, = in recent years, we undertook a massive engagement with seniors throughout the Yukon.= We heard about their needs, their hopes, and their concerns. This helped us to create an aging-in-place action plan, which complements Putting People First — the final report of the comprehensive review of Yukon’s health and social programs and services. Hon.&n= bsp;Speaker, we hope to be able to report soon on the results of the first year of that plan. We look forward to sharing how our government is supporting seniors a= nd elders in living full, active, and meaningful lives.
The re= cent renovation work at the Copper Ridge Place is all part of the actions outlin= ed in aging in place. These proactive upgrades will serve Yukoners long into t= he future and promote positive aging and the overall well-being of our seniors= and elders.
Speaker: Thi= s then brings us to Question Period.
QUESTION PERIOD
Question re: Sexual= abuse within elementary school
Mr. Dixon: Yesterday the Yukon Ombudsman became the latest office to launch an investigation into the conduct of the Department of Education under the leadership of the now-Deputy Premier. According to the release, this new investigation is loo= king at the failure to inform parents of children attending Hidden Valley about sexual abuse of a student that occurred in the school.
To quo= te from the release: “… this failure meant that other alleged child vic= tims who have since been identified did not receive the necessary parental and professional supports in a timely manner.”
Mr.&nb= sp;Speaker, this is precisely the point that we have been making. The former Education minister was aware of this abuse; she did nothing. Children went without justice as a result, and then the Premier promoted her.
Does t= he Deputy Premier recognize that this failure happened under her watch and that ultimately she is accountable for it?
Hon. Ms. McLean: There is nothing more important than the well-being, safety, a= nd protection of students when they are in our care. We are focused on moving forward in a way that supports the children and families of Hidden Valley school. We absolutely acknowledge — and have acknowledged along the w= ay — that mistakes were made and we have apologized for those mistakes. =
I want= to also point out that the RCMP have also acknowledged that they failed to properly investigate this matter, and they have also apologized. There is an investigation going on around that — a comprehensive investigation. <= /span>
I am a= ware that the Ombudsman has launched an investigation. We will be cooperating with the investigation.
We all= have a shared interest in understanding what happened in 2019 and how we can impro= ve going forward. The RCMP has acknowledged that they failed, as I have said, = to properly investigate this matter and have apologized. This was a major error that occurred. We have acknowledged that the communications could have been handled differently in a way that supports students and parents. As I have said, we will be cooperating, of course, with this investigation
Mr. Dixon: I think that Yukoners are getting tired of hearing the current minister read = the same prepared notes over and over again. What they want to hear are answers. There are now no less than four investigations into this scandal. The curre= nt minister, as before and as she just did today, has admitted that, under the former minister’s leadership, a grave mistake was made — that w= as to not inform parents — but no one from the Liberals has accepted any responsibility or accountability for this. This is a failure of leadership. Under the principle of ministerial accountability, the former minister is ultimately accountable for what happened in her department. She is accounta= ble for the decision not to share this information with parents and is therefore accountable for the 21-month delay in justice and support for victims. The Deputy Premier knew and she did nothing. She could have told parents, but s= he chose not to. So, will the Deputy Premier accept that accountability and re= sign from Cabinet?
Hon. Ms. McLean: As I have stated many times in this House, I have launched an independent review of the Government of Yukon’s response to the situa= tion at Hidden Valley school. The member opposite has pointed out that there are= a number of reviews underway: one with the Yukon Child and Youth Advocate, one with the RCMP, and now the Ombudsman has launched a review as well. I am satisfied, of course, that we will get the answers that Yukoners deserve, particularly the families and the children that are at the heart of this. I always go back to remind folks that at the heart of this are our children a= nd the impacts on them and, of course, the school community that has had a very difficult time navigating the start of this year and continuing to provide = good education for children at the Hidden Valley school. I acknowledge their dedication and hard work to ensure that proper supports are put in place and that children are moving forward in a positive way at the school to the bes= t of their ability.
Mr. Dixon: The facts in this matter are stark. The Deputy Premier learned about the sexual abuse in 2019. A letter was drafted by school administration but then never sent. We know that the minister was aware of that letter because it was appended to briefing notes that were sent to her.
She ha= s admitted openly to the media that she absolutely knew what happened, and a decision = was still made to keep this from parents. When we asked questions on behalf of families, she even insulted the parents and put words in their mouths. The Liberals have admitted that this was a mistake, and they have broken trust = with families. The former minister is accountable for that decision, that mistak= e, and that failure — not the current minister — the former minist= er. For that, she must resign.
So, wi= ll the Deputy Premier resign from Cabinet?
Hon. Ms. McLean: Again, there is nothing more important than the well-being, sa= fety, and protection of students when they are in our care. As soon as Education officials learned of the allegations in 2019, the individual was removed fr= om the school and has not worked with students since that time.
The Hi= dden Valley school administration changed their protocols to increase the safety= of students and reinforce accountability. We informed the RCMP, Hon. Spea= ker, and we expected them to undertake a complete and thorough investigation. The Yukon RCMP have initiated a complete review of its investigation. There are also ongoing, as I have stated a couple of times already today, investigati= ons into this matter.
I have= to remind folks, as well, that there are active cases within the courts, as we speak,= and it is incredibly sensitive at this time. I have launched an independent rev= iew. The government’s response to this incident — I tabled those ter= ms of reference. There will be a complete fact-finding, as pointed out in item= 4 of the terms of reference, and complete recommendations that will be delive= red by January 31, 2022.
Question
re: Sexual abuse within elementary school
Mr. Cathers: Mr. Speaker, the decision to not inform parents about sexual abuse at Hidden Valley Elementary School is a very serious matter. The only thing more concerning = than the lack of answers from the Liberal government is their lack of accountability. As a direct result of this decision, other children who were victims of sexual abuse went without justice or proper supports for 21 mont= hs — 21 months without justice or support all because the Deputy Premier= did not ensure that parents were informed. That was her responsibility as Minis= ter of Education, and she failed to do her duty.
Then t= he Premier rewarded her by making her Deputy Premier. Well, a failure that serious and significant is not worthy of a promotion, and her repeated refusal to answer questions in the House has added to it. It requires a resignation from the minister who is in charge of the Department of Education and is responsible= for this failure and the stonewalling in this Legislative Assembly.
Will t= he Deputy Premier now do the right thing and resign?
Hon. Ms. McLean: As I have stated many times, we are taking active steps to investigate the matter that happened in 2019. As we moved forward to today — I have stated today again that I tabled terms of reference for an independent review that is underway now. As I have stated as well, there wi= ll be a complete fact-finding related to the response of the departments of He= alth and Social Services, Education, and Justice to the incident in 2019 at the Hidden Valley Elementary School — and bringing forward to today.
The recommendations for improving government-wide policies and procedures to be= tter support Yukon school communities are absolutely going to be part of this re= port that will be delivered to me by January 31, 2022. As I’ve stated, the= re are a number of other reviews that are underway. This is where our attentio= n is right now — and also, of course, on providing the necessary supports = to families and the children at Hidden Valley.
Mr. Cathers: The government’s continued stonewalling is insulting to parents. We know = that the Deputy Premier knew about the sexual abuse at Hidden Valley in 2019. She also was briefed in 2020 and failed to notify parents. As a direct result of her failure, children went without justice and supports for nearly two year= s. Then, when a new Minister of Education came into the portfolio, the Deputy Premier kept her in the dark and didn’t notify her of the biggest sca= ndal to happen under this Liberal government.
The re= st of the Liberal caucus really needs to think about whether or not they are comforta= ble with the fact that the Deputy Premier failed to notify parents of the sexual abuse at Hidden Valley, that she failed to brief the new Minister of Educat= ion about the issue, leaving her in the dark, and that the Deputy Premier failed families. Is this the type of behaviour and actions that are acceptable in = the Liberal Cabinet?
Will t= he Deputy Premier finally do the right thing and resign from Cabinet?
Hon. Ms. McLean: Again, there is nothing more important to us than the well-bei= ng, safety, and protection of students when they are in our care. I think that,= at this point, I would like to just point out some of the supports and work th= at is being done at the school level within their community.
I have= talked about this a number of times, but I would like to talk about it again becau= se I really want to thank the school administration and the staff for all of the hard work that they are doing under incredibly difficult circumstances. Work has been underway, of course, to improve safety and openness in the school setting, including access to school areas where doors can be removed and wh= ere one‑way glass can be effectively used to create calming learning spac= es where staff can also see into those rooms. These are safety things that were put in place.
The mo= st effective way to ensure students’ safety is to educate children about consent and right- and wrong-touch boundaries. These are all things that ha= ve been underway for a number of years. There are many, many supports that have been put in place, and I will be wanting to speak about those and hold up t= he school community.
Mr. Cathers: Again, the government continues to insult families with their non-answers. It is c= lear that the Deputy Premier failed in her duties and responsibilities and, as a result, children went without justice for almost two years. There are now no less than four investigations into what happened under the Deputy Premier’s watch. Every single MLA in this House needs to ask themselv= es: whether or not they believe in ministerial accountability; whether they are comfortable with the Deputy Premier having both hidden information from par= ents and insulted parents and remaining in the second most powerful position in = the Yukon government; whether they are comfortable with the fact that she has refused even the most basic questions; and whether parents and children des= erve to have the Deputy Premier held accountable. We will be calling a motion tomorrow asking for the Deputy Premier to resign, and at that time, every M= LA will vote to show whether or not they are comfortable with her actions.
Will t= he Premier allow Liberal MLAs to vote with their conscience on this motion?
Hon. Mr. Silver: Hon. Speaker, again, to address the questions on the Legislative Assembly floor — the members opposite don’t like the answers, but we have been staying steadfast with the reasons why we are answering the way we are — the independent reviews and the nature of court cases that are currently in the courts. The member opposite knows this and, again, is still using that as an excuse to cast aspersions and to also turn highly politically motivated assumptions into fact over the course of = the last few weeks.
I beli= eve that both of my ministers have done an exceptional job of trying to get to the bottom of what has happened and to ensure that we move forward better for o= ur community and for our students. Our government is extremely committed to exactly that and to rebuilding the strength and the trust in our education system.
We are= very glad to see the independence of both the Ombudsman and the Child and Youth Advoc= ate, the independent review, as well as the RCMP review as well.
The Mi= nister of Education and the Minister of Justice are both extremely strong, dedicated leaders. They have dedicated their lives to advancing justice in our territ= ory and to promoting equity in our society. These are two of the strongest lead= ers I know in the territory, and I have absolute confidence in them.
Question
re: Physician recruitment and retention
Ms. Blake: Last week my colleague stood in this House and shared the concerns of so many Yukoners who do not have a family doctor. This week, we heard from an aging Yukoner who told us that he is giving up on waiting for a doctor in this to= wn and just accepted that he will probably die a few years younger and a nurse= who told us that the number of people coming to the ER with non-emergencies is getting dangerous because they are mixing with very sick people during a pandemic.
Yukone= rs agree that something has to change. Knowing all of this, why won’t the mini= ster fix this crisis and open a public walk-in clinic?
Hon. Ms. McPhee: I’m happy to rise again to speak to this issue. Again, I’m happy to repeat the answer and to continue with our progress in helping the medical professionals come here to the territory and add to our growing list of very competent medical professionals who serve Yukoners. = span>
Hon.&n= bsp;Speaker, much of Putting People First an= d the implementation of polyclinics is all about making sure that every Yukoner h= as a medical team in place to provide primary health care services that they nee= d. Admittedly, that is future-looking.
What w= e learned from Putting People First is th= at 21 percent of Yukoners do not, at this time, have a family doctor. This is a national = and global shortage. To recruit medical professionals, we work through national= and online forums and supplement support staff with agency nurses and out-of-territory resources when we can.
Hon.&n= bsp;Speaker, the “find a family doctor” program began in 2019 and, since that time, has not resolved every issue, admittedly. However, we have connected 1,058 people to a physician — or more than 1,050 — expanded acc= ess to virtual care —
Speaker: Ord= er.
Ms. Blake: Mr. Speaker, there are vacancies in nearly every Yukon community. There are vacancies for nurses in Mayo, Teslin, and Haines Junction. There are also vacancies for mental health workers in Dawson and vacancies for youth and family mental health workers in Haines Junction and Dawson City. It is fine to talk about= all the great programming and supports in communities, but when there is a revolving door of workers and continuous vacancies, everyone is affected.= span>
What i= s this government doing to recruit and actually retain health care workers?=
Hon. Ms. McPhee: As I have said, this is a national and global problem. The Yuk= on is feeling the pinch of having issues around being able to recruit and retain nurses and doctors, as is every jurisdiction in the country.
As we = implement the Putting People First report= , we are working to hire additional nurse practitioners and we are meeting with = the Yukon Medical Association to address physician recruitment and retention.= span>
Our go= vernment is also moving forward with the creation of a bilingual health centre, which will open in early 2022, and this primary health care setting in Whitehorse= is expected to reduce some of the pressures of the current situation.= p>
The de= partment has been exploring options to work with a professional recruiter or recruit= ment firm to support physician recruitment, as well as exploring opportunities to contract nurse practitioners to service some existing clinics.
Additi= onally, work is underway to expand access to virtual physician services.
Ms. Blake: Mr. Speaker, it is not just doctors who keep our health care system afloat. Nurse practitioners can do a lot, and they can take on some of the workload that leaves the doctors feeling burned out. They could be an essential pillar to= our health care system but are massively overlooked by the government. The Putting People First report even p= ointed it out. I quote: “We were disappointed to learn that nurse practition= ers are not able to practise to full scope in Yukon…” So, people who are desperately looking for primary health care are left wondering: Why won’t the minister expand the scope of practice for Yukon nurse practitioners?
Hon. Ms. McPhee: I think I just said that. I am happy to say it again. I think = that Yukoners deserve to know that the expansion of nurse practitioners to provi= de service throughout the territory is something that is absolutely priority f= or us. I think that nurse practitioners are an amazing resource. I can indicate that we recently hired a nurse practitioner to work in the communities of Carmacks and Old Crow. That is being very well-received and is providing service to those residents.
Nurse practitioners are the core part of health care professionals. The opportuni= ties for them to provide Yukoners with service across the territory is truly an exciting one. We are working to increase our level of nurse practitioners w= ho can serve communities in the existing clinics or in the mental wellness hub= s as part of that service as well. It is incredibly opportune to thank the nurse practitioners that we do have. They work tirelessly to serve their patients= and their clients. I know that there is much excitement in the nurse practition= er community about expanding those services.
Question
re: COVID-19 vaccination requirement rollout
Mr. Hassard: When the Premier made the politically motivated announcement about a vaccine man= date for Yukon government staff on October 15, he told media that they had a breakdown of how many staff are unvaccinated. When the media followed up on this, the Premier’s office had to backtrack. They said that, despite = what the Premier claimed, they only have a sense of vaccination levels and that = the Yukon government had not undertaken any efforts to confirm the vaccination status of any public servants.
Can th= e Minister responsible for the Public Service Commission confirm that the Premier was incorrect when he told media that they know how many staff are unvaccinated= ?
Hon. Mr. Streicker: <= span lang=3DEN-CA>I can say that the Premier did announce two Fridays ago that &= #8212; alongside the acting chief medical officer of health — the recommenda= tion was that we introduce vaccine requirements for public service staff. We have announced that, and I think that this is about having strong leadership throughout the pandemic to make sure that we protect the health and safety = of Yukoners, the public service, and the people they serve. This is all about = the role to combat COVID-19, and we have seen in jurisdictions around us that t= here is an increase in COVID and the wave of the Delta variant. Our focus, as a government, remains on protecting the health and safety of Yukoners. We nee= d to do everything that we can to stop the spread of COVID-19.
As the Yukon’s largest employer, Yukon government has a duty to lead by exam= ple and do our part to keep Yukoners safe.
I will= be happy to get up and answer further questions about vaccination rates across the public service. I’m happy to talk about that and to share that information with Yukoners.
Mr. Hassard: Actually, the question was about the Premier providing accurate information, but agai= n, we don’t get an answer.
In its= e‑mail to members, the Yukon Employees’ Union said — and I’ll qu= ote: “Nothing has been decided — not how to protect workers with legitimate vaccine exemptions, not how the government will run the territory with up to 20 per cent of its workforce on leave without pay.”=
Can th= e Minister responsible for the Public Service Commission tell us if this is true? Does= the government not have any plans in place to address staff shortages as a resu= lt of this policy announcement?
Hon. Mr. Silver: I don’t necessarily agree with the way that the members opposite are phrasing the questions. Again, when we did speak in the press conference, we talked about anecdotal information about certain things, but that was about it. I will have to go back and take a look at the transcript= s. If I did say something at that time that was off from the Public Service Commission, then I will definitely apologize for that. But again, I believe that we were talking about anecdotal information at that time.
It is interesting that we’re getting questions here about what needs to be cleared up. We know that the Leader of the Yukon Party came out against vac= cine requirements for employees at first and then told the media that he’s= not against those mandatory vaccinations. So, maybe we need to get the Yukon Pa= rty to clear up that — whether or not they’re in favour or not.
But ag= ain, as the question is being phrased, Hon. Speaker, we’ve made this poi= nt a few times now in the last two years. Recommendations come from the chief medical officer of health. They come out as soon as possible, and then we w= ork on the logistical challenges from there on. So, the answers to the member opposite’s question, specific to Public Service Commission — I = will get my minister responsible to his feet to answer any other specific questi= ons.
But ag= ain, the Yukon Party needs to put things in the correct context. Recommendations come from the chief medical officer of health. They come out immediately, and th= en we work on logistics.
Mr. Hassard: We certainly look forward to that apology from the Premier. We would certainly enjoy a few answers from them while he is at it.
In his= interview with CHON-FM last week, the Premier was definitive that this was coming into force on November 30. Yesterday we heard the Minister responsible for the Public Service Commission start to waffle on this date and suggest that it = may be delayed.
Can the government confirm that they are considering a delay to the implementation = of this policy?
Hon. Mr. Silver: What Yukoners need to know is that the vaccine requirements are based on the recommendations of the chief medical officer of health to protect Yukoners. They also need to know that the Yukon Party, depending on who they are talk= ing to, is either in favour or not in favour of these recommendations, and they pick and choose as they go along.
These = measures align with the steps that are being taken in jurisdictions across the count= ry to increase vaccination rates and combat the Delta variant. Again, these recommendations, as they stand — the chief medical officer of health comes out with those recommendations, and we work on that implementation. <= /span>
We are= in conversations with unions about how we can support our employees while ensu= ring that we maintain safe work places. We are following the recommendations, as= I said, of the chief medical officer of health, and we have an obligation to provide a safe workplace to our dedicated employees and to the Yukoners who serve every single day. That’s leadership, and that’s how we ar= e on the path to recovery.
Question
re: Rural solid-waste transfer stations
Mr. Istchenko: Several weeks ago, the Minister of Community Services was invited to a meeting in Destruction Bay about the government’s decision to close the Silver C= ity solid-waste transfer station. At the meeting, the minister told residents t= hat the government had no timeline for the closure of the site and had no clear sense of how much it would cost to both close the site and make improvements elsewhere to accommodate the change. Despite this, the minister made it cle= ar to all who came out that his mind was made up and that he wasn’t interested in hearing the views of those residents who were most affected. = This has become a bit of a trend of this Liberal government; they make decisions first and ask for feedback afterwards.
Why di= d the Minister of Community Services make the decision to close the rural transfer station without first consulting the residents who are most affected?
Hon. Mr. Mostyn: Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker, and I appreciate the question from the member opposite this afternoon. I did indeed make a trip = out to Destruction Bay, as part of my community tour, to speak and listen to residents. I have been doing that across the territory. I made the trip bec= ause I am interested in hearing what Yukoners have to say on matters of concern = in their community. Of course, that day I did hear for a few hours about the closure of the transfer station, which is part of a renovation of our trans= fer station and the way that we handle waste throughout the territory. We are modernizing and improving the territory’s solid-waste management syst= em to ensure that our practices follow sustainable and nationally recognized standards in solid-waste management. We are committed to raising the standa= rds at transfer stations and landfills across the Yukon. This means that all si= tes must have gates, facility open hours, and attendants monitoring what comes = in and directing customers to where things go and charging similar tipping fees across the entire waste‑management spectrum.
Curren= tly, managing garbage and recycling costs Yukoners more than $12 million every y= ear — $12 million — and I will continue this answer in the subsequent questions.
Mr. Istchenko: I do want to thank the good residents of Kluane for organizing that meeting. I know that it took six months for the minister to finally accept to come, bu= t in the case of the Silver City solid-waste transfer station, the government has indicated that they won’t be able to close the site until they have a regional solid-waste agreement with the Village of Haines Junction, yet we = know that the government is not even close to reaching such an agreement. So, why would the minister tell the residents in my riding that they were going to = lose an important option for solid waste and that they need to look for alternat= ives when the government hasn’t even reached an agreement with the Village= of Haines Junction yet?
Hon. Mr. Mostyn: We are committed to raising standards at transfer stations in landfills across the Yukon. Currently, managing garbage and recycling costs Yukoners more than $12 million a year. We are working to manage these escalating costs and reduce environmental risks. Every single one of us in = this House and every single one of us across society, with very few exceptions, = is creating more garbage, and we have to get on top of that. That is what this plan is all about.
I don&= #8217;t know — the member opposite — I disagree with his opening remark= s. He says that we are nowhere near a negotiated settlement with municipalitie= s, and I take issue with that. We are working very hard with municipalities. I have been in touch with municipal leaders across the territory. We are goin= g to continue to work to make sure that all municipalities that actually asked f= or this plan are managing their waste transfer stations and their municipal la= ndfills better. They asked us for that. They asked my colleague for that plan early= on. We are following through with that request.
We wil= l work with rural Yukoners to help them manage the transition to environmentally s= afe handling of waste in rural Yukon, and I look forward to opportunities to discuss how we can support them through this period of change.
Mr. Istchenko: We know that the minister is planning to close several rural solid-waste trans= fer stations around the territory, and it is clear that this decision was made without any consultation with the residents most affected by this change. I= t is also clear that the government doesn’t seem to have a plan in place to support those residents once the sites are closed.
We kno= w that there are better ways to address government’s concerns and we know th= at the rural Yukoners will be happy to do their part, but by ignoring residents and cutting their services, the government is signalling to those Yukoners = that their views don’t matter.
Will t= he minister agree to stop his plans to close rural transfer stations, stop cut= ting these important government services to rural Yukon, and agree to actually consult with the residents in all of those communities and find alternative ways to address the garbage?
Hon. Mr. Mostyn: Once again, Hon. Speaker, I am going to take issue with t= he preamble. We have consulted and we have spoken. As a matter of fact, at the meeting that we’re talking about, I was actually there to hear from residents.
I will= say that I recognize that this initiative will mean changes to how some rural Yukone= rs manage their garbage and recycling. The member opposite is correct; we are going to close four rural transfer stations. I understand how frustrating it must be for some people to have government make these changes, but we will = work with rural Yukoners to help them manage the transition to environmentally s= afe handling of waste in rural Yukon. I do look forward to opportunities to dis= cuss how we can support them through this transition.
Change= is hard, but municipalities have reached out to this government and said that it is = not sustainable — the way we handle our municipal waste is not sustainabl= e. We are all producing more garbage every single day. This government was approached. We are making the changes that are necessary to make sure that = our municipalities can continue to take the garbage and manage it in a responsi= ble fashion.
Speaker: The= time for Question Period has now elapsed.
Notice
of opposition private members’ business
Mr. Ke=
nt: Pursuant to Standing Order
14.2(3), I would like to identify the item standing in the name of the Offi=
cial
Opposition to be called on Wednesday, October 27, 2021. It is Motion No.&nb=
sp;169,
standing in the name of the Member for Lake Laberge.
Ms. Tr=
edger: Pursuant to Standing Order
14.2(3), I would like to identify the items standing in the name of the Thi=
rd
Party to be called on Wednesday, October 27, 2021. They are Motion No. =
;168,
standing in the name of the Member for Whitehorse Centre, and Motion No.&nb=
sp;165,
standing in the name of the Member for Takhini-Kopper King.
Speaker:=
195;We will now proceed to Or=
ders of
the Day.
Orders of
the Day
Hon. M=
s. McPhee: I move that the Speaker d=
o now
leave the Chair and that the House resolve into Committee of the Whole.
Speaker:=
195;It has been moved by the
Government House Leader that the Speaker do now leave the Chair and that the
House resolve into Committee of the Whole.
Motion agre=
ed to
Speaker lea=
ves the
Chair
Committee
of the Whole
Chair (Ms.&= nbsp;Blake): I will now call Committee of the Whole to order.
The ma=
tter
before Committee is continuing general debate on Bill No. 202, entitled Second Appropriation Act 2021-22.
Do mem= bers wish to take a brief recess?
All Hon. Members: Agreed.
Chair: Commi= ttee of the Whole will recess for 15 minutes.
Recess
Chair: Commi= ttee of the Whole will now come to order.
Bill No. 202: Second Appropriation Act 2021-22= i>
Chair: The m=
atter
before the Committee is continuing general debate of Bill No. 202, entitled=
Second Appropriation Act 2021-22.
Is the= re any further general debate? &= nbsp;
Mr.&nb= sp;Premier, you have 12 minutes and 24 seconds remaining.
Hon. Mr. Silver: Thank you, Madam Chair. I would just like to welcome back to t= he Legislative Assembly Scott Thompson, my Deputy Minister of Finance, and I w= ill cede the floor to the opposition.
Mr. Istchenko: First of all, while we were on break — I don’t know how to say this r= ight — but there has been an incident in Faro. Our thoughts and prayers are with the community of Faro right now.
We do = have to continue in the Legislature. I do want to thank the staff who are here toda= y, and I thank the Premier for the time, and I want to thank my constituents in Kluane for their renewed support in my third term. I am honoured to be the critic for Environment, and seeing as Environment does not have a line item= , I will have a few questions for the Premier. Hopefully, he can answer me, or I will get his minister to provide an answer. I do believe they are important questions for Yukoners.
I want= the Premier to explain a little more about the Yukon Climate Leadership Council. I want= to know what the terms of reference are.
Hon. Mr. Silver: Again, we are in general debate for the supplementary budget. = I will have some information for the members opposite, but maybe not the specifics that they’re looking for. As committed by the leader of their party, = if they could follow up with some specific questions to the ministers responsi= ble, that would be great as well. But we could also, if there are questions on t= he floor here, endeavour to get those answers for him as well.
Speaki= ng about the incident in Faro, we are aware that there is an active incident in Faro right now. The RCMP has requested that all persons in Faro shelter in place immediately until further notice. Our officials are working to support emergency responders and keep people safe. As we await additional informati= on, we hope for the safety of all who are involved.
When i= t comes to the Yukon Climate Leadership Council, this was outlined in the 2021 confide= nce and supply agreement. The Government of Yukon is working with the NDP caucu= s to establish a Yukon Climate Leadership Council. The council will provide evid= ence‑based recommendations to the government on plans to reach the 45‑percent reduction in Yukon greenhouse gas emissions, including mining emissions, by 2030 compared to the 2010 levels.
The co= uncil will provide its advice through a written report to be released by the summer of 2022. The report will be available publicly online. We are very pleased to report that 12 people have been selected for the council through a mutual agreement between us and the NDP caucus. The Yukon Climate Leadership Counc= il members were selected using a merit-based pre‑screening process. The selected members represent a balance of experience and expertise and reflect the diversity of our territory.
The te= rms of reference for the Yukon Climate Leadership Council will be finalized by the members and will be released following that. Members have been selected, as= I mentioned, and they’ll be able to meet very shortly, from what I̵= 7;m being told as well. The council will be announced very soon.
Mr. Istchenko: Does the Premier have a list of those members who were picked?
Hon. Mr. Silver: I do not.
Mr. Istchenko: Will the minister commit to getting a copy to me, please? And thank you.<= /p>
Hon. Mr. Silver: I will talk to the secretariat about that. It is not public y= et. It will be made public very, very soon and we will get the member opposite that information as soon as it is made public.
Mr. Istchenko: I was really impressed with “Our Recommendations, Our Future” from the Youth Panel on Climate Change. = The Youth Panel on Climate Change prioritizes reconnection, sustainable relationships with the land, and people to ensure the social and economic systems are based on reciprocity and supported by ecological integrity. Overall, this resulted in a changed mindset and way of living to sustain a healthy planet. There were some great panelists on there; one of them was f= rom my community. I’m good friends with her and her dad. It was really gr= eat to see.
I am j= ust wondering for the future — they recommend quite a few things in here,= and a lot of that stuff we have set out already in the Yukon with our many organizations — whether it be the local renewable resources council, = the Fish and Wildlife Management Board, the Fish and Game Association, the Agricultural Association, the Outfitters Association, the Trappers Associat= ion — there are many organizations out there. My question for the Premier= is — I think that when we have the youth engaged, it is great to work wi= th these organizations — I am just wondering if, in future, this is something that the youth panel would do — sit down with them — because these people are keepers of the land too. Some of these organizatio= ns have been around and came into force because of how important it is or how important our land is.
Hon. Mr. Silver: Yes, when it comes to, in general, the Youth Panel on Climate Change, our premise has always been that Yukon youth deserve to have their voices heard on climate change as well as with their government. It is important that they know that we are listening. This is why we created the Youth Panel on Climate Change as part of Our Clean Future — A Yukon st= rategy for climate change, energy and a green economy. Over the past year, the youth panelists have been exploring key themes related to climate change and engaging experts, elders, and other Yukon youth to develop recommendations = on how the government can accelerate work on climate change.
They d= id present to us — the Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, the Minister of Environment, and me — some of the recommendations. We will be focusin= g in on the recommendations that make the biggest impact to climate change, that’s for sure.
As far= as us prescribing to the panel as to who they should and shouldn’t meet wit= h, I am not going to be very prescriptive, but it is a great suggestion from the member opposite as far as NGOs and different organizations that have passio= n, knowledge, and expertise in the field of climate change. Again, it is a gre= at suggestion. We are inspired by each of the panelists and the diversity of experiences that they represent and the fact that it is rural and urban = 212; people representing different communities, different backgrounds, and diffe= rent walks of life. We are looking forward to incorporating the insights and perspectives of that youth panel’s work into the government decision-making moving forward.
We men= tioned Our Clean Future — our strat= egic approach for climate change, energy, and a green economy. We had a great conversation with the youth on their recommendations and also on our review= of that policy. For the members opposite, it was three years in the making, working with First Nation governments, municipal governments, and climate change experts to come to a comprehensive strategy for climate change, ener= gy, and a green economy. I want to thank the Yukon Party for supporting that du= ring the election, saying that they would continue to implement our plan on a cl= ean future. We believe that it is good work. It is an interesting read, as well= , as the targets change, recognizing that all of the technology and supply chain management — all of the incentives now — will not get us to whe= re we need to be, but these things will change.
We are= looking at an international gathering of COP. Hopefully, we will see some initiativ= es from international governments, as well, but the importance of having grassroots, youth-based, Yukon-led recommendations for the government are j= ust as important as us paying attention to the national and international situations and recommendations.
Mr. Istchenko: I thank the Premier for that answer. I know that with the previous Minister of Environment — there were challenges with some of the renewable resour= ces councils and some of the associations and also with the Premier, but there’s a new government and a new minister.
I̵= 7;m just wondering if the minister and/or Premier had met with — and I will ju= st list some of these organizations: the Fish and Wildlife Management Board, t= he local renewable resources councils, the Yukon Fish and Game Association, the Yukon Agricultural Association, the Outfitters Association, the Wild Sheep Foundation, the Yukon Trappers Association, and the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers association. The reason I am wondering if the minister or the Premi= er had met with them is because I want to know how much consultation was done = with these organizations to determine the resources for the fly-in data capture. When it comes to that fly-in data capture — the budget for it —= I was wondering what the total budget is for that.
The basic question would be: Did the minister meet with these organizations to discuss what the priority was for where to fly in this data capture, and how much is the data-capture budget = this year?
Hon. Mr. Silver: I do know that the minister has been in meetings. I know that = the department has been in meetings. I don’t have a detailed list of what those meetings are, but I will endeavour to get that information back from = the department for the member opposite.
Mr. Istchenko: I thank the Premier for that.
A few = years ago, Pine Lake — and I’m not sure if the Premier knows where Pine La= ke is. It’s in my riding. It’s very close to Haines Junction. It h= as a nice beach that we are hoping to get more sand on for next summer for the k= ids, but it wound up being closed for fishing. Residents at community meetings s= et up through the local renewable resources council had grave concerns with closing it, because they seemed to think — and no one could answer the question if they would ever open it again. It has been a few years now. I j= ust want to know what work has been done, how much money is budgeted, and what = the local employees are doing. It’s a community issue, and they would lik= e to see the lake opened back up for fishing. It’s close to the community. It’s great for seniors and families. It’s a safe lake; it doesn’t get too windy.
I am j= ust wondering if the Premier has any information on that.
Hon. Mr. Silver: I don’t have anything new to report to the member opposi= te as far as some of those conversations. This could be something that we can get back to him with from the Department of Environment. I know that they have = some information on RRCs — some meetings there — but I don’t h= ave anything new to share with the member opposite, but I can talk to the department to see what they have.
Mr. Istchenko: I thank the Premier for that.
So, ca= n the Premier provide a bit of an update around salmon numbers and what actions h= ave been undertaken by the Yukon government in response to those numbers?
Hon. Mr. Silver: As the member opposite knows, DFO — the federal governme= nt — has the most responsibility for salmon. I do know that this is a conversation that is being brought up among First Nation governments and leadership, and it’s something that we’re considering speaking about at Yukon Days when it comes to our concerns with the federal direction — the new minister is in today — and serious concerns about our salmon populations.
They a= re extremely important conversations that we seem to have all the time with a = lot of different First Nations. We could be going in and talking about anything from education to infrastructure, and salmon is always going to be a concer= n.
I know= that there have been ongoing meetings with the Department of Environment and counterparts in British Columbia, as well, to coordinate and to see statist= ical analysis and to make sure that we can coordinate with jurisdictions that are around us. But, again, DFO being the federal department responsible — whether or not we have that conversation at Yukon Days, that would be a joi= nt approach from both us and the First Nation governments.
Mr. Istchenko: I thank the Premier. Just to follow up a little bit more on that, a few years ago, I wrote a letter to the federal minister because they had cut the budg= et for Dalton Post. This year we had an almost record run of sockeye. They ope= ned the fishery up at Dalton Post, which was a surprise. The First Nation suppo= rted that.
For th= e Premier at Yukon Days when he is down there — we have to stand up when budgets get cut for our fish, especially our salmon in the Yukon. I brought it to t= he minister’s attention — and if the Premier could also bring it to the minister — because I know that, with the cuts to that budget, the staffing wasn’t down there, and when we had record numbers, it was qu= ite the challenge to get those numbers and keep track of them. That’s just something for the Premier.
I want= to switch gears a little bit here to what the previous Liberal government made — and some strong commitments around campgrounds during the election. I’= ;m just wondering, in the budget, can the Premier confirm what work will be do= ne to increase capacity at these existing campgrounds? They talked about a new campground; I’m wondering if they have picked a location for it yet. =
I thin= k that one of the hugest concerns we hear about — whether it’s from the Me= mber for Watson Lake, me, or rural members — is the roads. I’m just wondering if there is any increase to the budget to ensure that the roads to popular campgrounds across the Yukon can be better maintained.
Hon. Mr. Silver: I’m going to start my response with the parks strategy implementation, and we’ll go from there into the specifics about new campground planning as well. I think that it is pertinent information at th= is point.
The st= rategy itself was released in the fall of 2020. The Department of Environment has = been working to implement the many actions that are outlined in this 10-year strategy.
Short-= term actions that have already been completed, or are currently underway, would = be things like: engagement with First Nations on development of a new campgrou= nd within two hours of Whitehorse, so I will talk more about that specifically; introduction of a longer serviced campground season, from May 1 to September 30; establishing regulations to update park fees; developing an online paym= ent system to pay nightly camping fees at a discounted rate; providing opportunities for public input to modernize park regulations, including ensuring public safety and environmental and heritage protections as well; = and also initiating the development of a system plan to guide the establishment= of new parks.
Other initiatives that will be rolled out in the next five years would include: create more year-round recreational opportunities in territorial parks; pro= vide more accessible wilderness experiences through enhanced frontcountry and also backcountry trails, which is something that is near and dear to a = lot of Yukoners, that is for sure; work closely with First Nations and Inuvialu= it, as well, to co-develop a collaborative park management framework and develop partnerships with indigenous guardians therein; pilot a new campsite reservation system; and also add more campsites at some existing campground= s.
The st= rategy itself sets a long-term direction for the Yukon government through the parks system that goes on through until 2030 — the vision of the park syste= m incorporated with four building blocks: (1) protection of ecological and cultural values; (2) reconciliation through collaborative management; (3) public service tha= t is sustainable, efficient, and also accountable; and (4) the public benefits, including healthy people, healthy land, and healthy economy.
Implem= entation of the strategy will continue to involve collaboration, as I said, with Fir= st Nations, with the Inuvialuit, and other partners to provide opportunities f= or public participation, which is extremely important. When it comes to the specific new campground planning, I am pleased that this work is underway, = as I mentioned, to develop that new campground — so six Yukon First Nations whose traditional territories lie within two hours’ drive of Whitehor= se have been invited to discuss possible campground locations and partnership opportunities with the Yukon Parks branch. Pending these initial conversati= ons, we will consult with First Nations to establish a new campground at a chosen location. Yukoners will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the new campground after a final location has been selected.
To get= to the construction phase, we would also need to complete the necessary planning a= nd design work, and that’s where conversations about roads would be comi= ng in. We are aiming to have a new campground ready for use by 2025. The new campground will provide economic opportunities for all — for First Nations, for the private sector. There will be opportunities to bid on tend= ers for the campground design, the construction, and the ongoing operation as w= ell. The new First Nation procurement policy will be followed to enhance the economic outcomes to Yukon First Nation people and for businesses. Also, the outlined strategy has a number of desirable features for a new recreation p= ark and campground. In addition to being located within a two-hour drive of Whitehorse, it will be a larger campground with up to 150 sites, it will ha= ve a rustic atmosphere with well-spaced campsites and quiet zones available as w= ell, and it will also provide active recreation opportunities, hiking trails, and access to water bodies.
You me= ntioned the consultation with the First Nations specific to roads. We don’t h= ave a complete list, but $80,000 is for Aishihik, Kusawa= span>, and Ethel Lake roads. They are working with Highways and Public Works to ha= ve these conversations — and again maybe some more thorough updates from= the ministers responsible, but in general that is kind of the plan right now for the parks strategy — but also specifically to new campground planning within that radius from the Whitehorse area.
Mr. Istchenko: When it does come to the road maintenance, that $80,000 that the Premier spoke a= bout are existing funds — leftover funds toward the end of the season. It = is unfortunate that they are going to try to get out there and spend it now in= the fall. It would be easier to spend it in the summer when it is easier to do = the work.
When I= was mentioning roads, we have other roads like Simpson Lake, Watson Lake, and F= rances Lake. I am just wondering if the Premier — this is an ongoing issue t= hat we’ve sent to the minister. I think that every year the Member from Watson Lake — this is a conversation — did you increase the fun= ds so that the roads can be better maintained? The bigger vehicles, the larger motorhomes, the increase in usage, and, of course, the pandemic will probab= ly wind down at some point in time and tourists will come back, so there will = be a lot more traffic on there. I am just wondering if the Premier is looking at increasing that budget so there can be more dollars to do this more regular= ly through the summer.
Hon. Mr. Silver: I know for a fact that the Minister of Highways and Public Wor= ks has a great working relationship with the Minister of Environment. It should be easy to consult with each other, and that is where this information would be flowing as far as if there are new requests when it comes to specifics in t= he Department of Environment. I think that there is $2.2 million set aside for campground planning, which is an important part of access to these campgrounds, making sure that we have the infrastructure there to get folks= to where they need to be. I will do a shameless plug about the amazing work th= at the Department of Highways and Public Works has done to access close to half-a-billion dollars of extra money for the north Klondike Highway projec= t, let alone some of the other work that they’ve been doing to secure ve= ry specific federal funding through applications.
Whethe= r it is through our regular budgeting process or our regular five‑year capital plan, but also our ability to apply for and get some of these augmented fun= ding windows — Gateway, for example, or, in this case, more money for the north Klondike to upgrade the levels of those highways — it’s g= reat to see the department being so active and engaged with its federal counterparts.
We wil= l make sure that, as we move forward on campgrounds, the accessibility is extremely important. I know that the conversations will be flowing from the Departmen= t of Environment into the Department of Highways and Public Works.
Mr. Istchenko: I want to talk a little bit about docks. The cottage lots at Kluane — t= here was a dock that was put in at Dutch Harbour. It was contracted, tendered, a= nd to be put in, and then an employee from Environment was to learn how to do = it and they were supposed to do it every year. Well, the contractor has been putting it in every year and taking it out every year, and it didn’t = go in until mid-summer this year. It is under the Department of Community Serv= ices for some reason, not Environment.
I unde= rstand that docks and marinas are under Community Services. That dock is large, an= d I think there have only ever been two boats at that dock. The conversation no= w is that maybe that dock could be better used somewhere else. I am just wonderi= ng if the Premier has any information on budgets, proposed new docks, Kusawa — Laberge could really use a nice dock l= ike was in Dutch Harbour, so I’m just wondering if he has any more information on that.
Hon. Mr. Silver: Respectfully to the member opposite, that would be under Energ= y, Mines and Resources, not necessarily Community Services right now. They are going to be available here past general debate, so they can answer the spec= ific questions that the member has.
It is = not only if there is money in this current budget, but also forecasts from where the department may see pressures moving forward when it comes to docks or, agai= n, with recommendations from the member opposite about the nature and use of specific docks.
Mr. Istchenko: I thank the Premier for that. I know from talking to the contractor that it w= as Community Services that called them to go and put the dock in and out, so t= hat is something that, I guess, when we get into Energy, Mines and Resources, we can get a little bit more information.
So, th= e next thing that I would like to talk about is firewood. We know, due to the inac= tion in addressing some of these permit issues, when it comes to getting firewoo= d, there has been a serious increase in firewood costs, so how much more of the government’s budget does the Premier think will have to go toward firewood for campgrounds?
Hon. Mr. Silver: I would just indulge the member opposite — if he could clarify. Was his question specific to campground firewood supply or firewood supply in general?
Mr. Istchenko: It’s for campgrounds. The Government of Yukon purchases so many cords of wood a = year for campgrounds. I guess the question would be: How much more is this going= to cost them because there is a lack of firewood? Will there be enough firewood for our campgrounds next year?
Hon. Mr. Silver: We know that, currently budgeted this year, it would be over $400,000 specific= ally to firewood in this budget. As the member opposite rightly points out, with= an increase in campgrounds, there will be an increase in need, so those details would be worked out in future Management Board submissions from the departm= ent.
I did = mention, as well, that short-term, medium-term, and long-term planning for campgroun= ds — $2.2 million, I believe, was the number set aside for all of t= hat planning. Again, how that manifests into specifics of when we do get to a p= oint to discuss a brand new campsite — that would be a pending submission = from the department.
We als= o, to answer the member opposite’s question, don’t think that there’s going to be a problem securing firewood. There hasn’t b= een to date. It is already contracted out to a number of suppliers.
Mr. Istchenko: I was interested to read — in the Order-in-Council 2021/141 — the regulations to amend the Yukon campground regulations. Section 5 is amended, and it says in the subsection that the expression “‘subject to subsections (4) to (8)’ is replaced with the expression ‘Unless otherwise authorized to use campground facilities by a park permit and subj= ect to the subsections…’”
So, mo= ving forward to 4, it says: “The following sections are added immediately after section 5.01:
“= ;5.02(1) The minister may designate a camping site as a group camping site or a tenting-only campsite.”
It goe= s on to say: “5.03(1) Subject to the terms of a park permit and to subsections (2) and (3), the maximum number of occupants of a camping site is eight.= 221;
Then (= 2) says: “Subject to the terms of a park permit, the maximum number of occupan= ts of a group camping site is 12.” So, there are “8” and “12” in here. If my neighbour’s daughter is having a birt= hday party and there are 13 people at that campsite in the afternoon, who will enforce this?
Hon. Mr. Silver: I guess my confusion would be — whether we are going to = change the structure of the parks or not, there are park officers who are tasked w= ith enforcement currently, and they would still have those enforcement capabili= ties and responsibilities if we are changing certain subsections of the plan. Bu= t, again, to answer the member opposite’s question again, it would be th= ose officers.
Mr. Istchenko: I can see that becoming quite the contentious issue.
Also, = section 8 is amended and is replaced with the following: “Except as otherwise ordered by an officer, a person must not
“(a) stop or park a vehicle on the travelled portion of a road in a campground;
“(b) stop or park a vehicle in such a manner = as to
“= ;(i) impede the proper use of a road in a campground, o= r
“= ;(ii) damage vegetation in a campground…”
So, th= e roads in the campground — I am sure that the Premier, along with everyone else, has travelled in many of our campgrounds. The sites in most of these campgrounds were built back in the day when we didn’t have 30-foot motorhomes and large fifth wheels, so sometimes you are lucky to get a truck and trailer in there with one. I spoke earlier about the birthday party in = the afternoon, and if someone parks on that road, the road is actually impeded.= You can get around that vehicle, but it could be deemed to be impeding traffic.= On my way driving to work early on Monday morning, there was a blue vehicle ro= lled over in the ditch — it has been there for a month and a half. There w= as a vehicle at Stony Creek on the shoulder of the road in the dark, with no markings on it, and there was another one just by where you used to turn in= to the bakery at the Takhini Crossing.
My poi= nt for the Premier is that there are regulations, and they seem to sit on the highway = for a long period of time and they are a public nuisance to safety. But, with t= he neighbour’s third birthday party for her daughter, when everybody pul= ls out there and pulls off to the shoulder of the road as best as they can to = go to the birthday party, we are going to make sure that they don’t park there — but we leave vehicles unsafe on the highway.
Hon. Mr. Silver: A lot of the concerns that the member opposite is putting on t= he floor today came from the parks consultation. All of this starts with educa= tion and making sure that we are aware of what the situations are and what the concerns are of people. Again, the pushing of groups to larger group sites — I understand the member opposite’s concerns. Guests being on = the sides of the road — these are safety issues. As I said before, we have the officers who have the enforcement obligations there.
I thin= k he went into something a little bit different when it comes to derelict vehicles and when it comes to travelling on our highways. I will agree with the member opposite. On the way to Dawson, there are a couple of vehicles that have be= en sitting on the side of the road for quite some time. I will endeavour to get back to the member opposite as far as if any policy has changed since he was previously Minister of Highways and Public Works as far as our duty to make sure that our highways are safe.
It is = one thing to have a vehicle that has been pushed off onto the side of the road —= ; we see those a lot — but to have a vehicle that is still on the road, in= a derelict situation, is a huge safety concern. I completely agree with the member opposite.
Mr. Istchenko: I thank the Premier for that. I am just bringing concerns forward that the Premier will probably hear as they move forward with the new changes to campgrounds. I am not even going to talk about the fees. I will just leave = it there. I made motions in the House and asked questions about this before.= span>
I want= to talk about gravel pits a little bit and the access by hunters. The hunters go in there for sighting rifles. Some gravel pits have homes within a kilometre. A lot of communities have very active gun clubs — which we do — w= ith a range, and lots of people go there, but some of the communities don’= ;t have that and so they will go to a gravel pit. I am just wondering if, for public safety, the government has considered adding signage to those gravel pits that would say, “Residents are close by. Do not sight in your ri= fle in this gravel pit” — for lack of better words.
I have= heard this complaint from quite a few constituents — First Nation and non-F= irst Nation — who choose to live kind of off grid in there but every now a= nd then get woken up with gunfire. It’s not that the people sighting in rifles are purposely doing this; they just don’t know. I am just wondering if there is any thought to putting some signs up.
Hon. Mr. Silver: We have definitely seen an increase in some activity in these = pits, for sure, and one of the prime responsibilities of the department is to make sure that gravel pits are used safely. If that use has been augmented for rifles, maybe some target practice and some scoping, then we have an obliga= tion for the health and safety of the public, and the associated liability is ve= ry significant. The concerns to date about some of that public use of those gr= avel pits — I don’t necessarily have any more information for the me= mber opposite as far as a new strategy or a new approach.
I will= give him a little anecdotal information. I used to have a job at a range, and my job= was to feed the clay pigeons on the arm as it went over the bank. It was quite a great job. For them to get me out of the hole, they would shoot the top of = the tin roof. That was my bell to tell me that my shift was over. I had a lot of fun in that area, that’s for sure. That is just a little anecdotal information for the member opposite.
I will= see from the department if they have any other concerns or strategies when it comes = to folks who are using the gravel pits for the sighting of rifles.
Mr. Istchenko: I thank the Premier for that. One of the last things that I want to talk about here is the elk — the elk and agriculture conflict basically in the I= bex Valley. There is supposed to be something coming out in March 2022. As the previous Minister of Environment myself — and it is an issue. It̵= 7;s an issue that is a tough one for both sides. You have the Yukon Fish and Ga= me Association, which looked at a hunting opportunity and brought elk into the area. I heard many a story from Alex Van Bibber on the reasons that they pu= shed for that. It was an opportunity to hunt in a burn area that wasn’t mu= ch area. Well, since then, we’ve seen farming and things like that. Every time I talk to the Fish and Game Association or I talk to the Agricultural Association, it seems like they are sort of pitted against each other. I am just wondering if the Premier or the minister is willing to sit down with b= oth organizations in a room — and probably the MLA from that area as it is near and dear to his heart too — and have a discussion to see if we can’t actually look at some — and they may be some drastic chan= ges, but it would be for the benefit of both organizations, for public safety, a= nd also for the destruction of property within those farms in the Ibex Valley.=
Hon. Mr. Silver: I do know that there have been meetings already recently. Also= , when it comes to the agriculture and elk conflict, this is a joint department approach between Environment and Energy, Mines and Resources. Energy, Mines= and Resources will be here after general debate. As far as strategy for sit-dow= ns, I would really want the minister responsible to answer that.
Suffic= e it to say, we absolutely recognize the concerns that have been raised by a segmen= t of the agriculture community regarding specifically the T= akhini valley elk population and its impacts on crops and infrastructure on farms.= We continue to research fencing options and herd reduction to mitigate these concerns.
There = is not going to be one approach. I think that we need to take a look at different approaches here. We are engaged in a two-year plan to manage elk conflict through increased funding for fencing, as I mentioned, but also the reducti= on of that herd size is an extremely important piece of this as well, through increased harvesting — and also the development of elk-specific mitigation for new agricultural land releases.
The ag= riculture‑conflict elk hunt aims to reduce that elk population in the eastern Takhini area and condition elk to stay away from the conflict area. We need to cont= inue down that path. We have also established an elk-agricultural working group,= and we continue to have discussions with affected farmers and landowners. There= are also interest groups that are extremely interested, and First Nations as we= ll, in addressing the elk-agricultural conflicts.
The me= mber opposite would be aware of the 2016 elk management plan prioritizing the conflicts in this area. The Department of Environment is currently reviewing that plan, and they are going to update with information from an upcoming survey in addition to what has been gathered over the past five years.
Mr. Istchenko: I thank the Premier for that. I look forward to my fellow colleague from Copperbelt South asking a few more questions when the department is in.
I have= one more before I finalize today. Earlier today, for the Premier, I asked the questi= on in Question Period about the closing of landfills. There was a public meeti= ng held in my riding, and a lot of work had been put into gathering data and information by the local residents. This is probably almost a two-year, ong= oing issue. A friend of mine who works at the Arctic Institute, Harry Penn, wrot= e a letter to the previous minister quite a few years ago, and he actually highlighted climate change, GHG emissions, and really the science‑bas= ed approach to this issue.
I read= it earlier today, but I think it begs reading again — from the Yukon You= th Panel on Climate Change.
The recommendation that came for our future is the Youth Panel on Climate Chang= e, which prioritizes reconnecting sustainable relationships with the land and = the people to ensure that social and economic systems are based on reciprocity = and supported by ecological integrity. Overall, this results in a changed minds= et and a way of living to sustain a healthy planet.
So, at= the Silver City landfill site — once a week, when General Waste drives out from Whitehorse, they drive on the Alaska Highway to Destruction Bay. They = go to the landfill just north of Destruction Bay, and they dump the bins. On t= heir way back, on the Alaska Highway, they stop at the Silver City landfill. The Silver City landfill from the Alaska Highway is probably the distance from = here to Main Street.
It is = a big truck; it burns diesel. He pulls in there, and if the containers are full, = he dumps. Then he goes back out that distance — I don’t think he e= ven puts a kilometre on — and then he continues on to Whitehorse, and may= be someday to Haines Junction, to go and dump this garbage. It is bear-proofed= , so the bears aren’t in there.
So, tw= o things: If they close that site, human-wildlife conflict from household garbage from all the residents will become an issue. In the summertime, it’s hot, = and it’s hard to deal with that.
The ot= her issue is, and if you want to talk about changing the mindset of living to sustain= a healthy planet, having 10 or 20 — there are more than 10 residents who use that landfill — having all those people drive three times a week = to Haines Junction in their vehicles — this is what Harry put to me a ye= ar and a half ago, and it was brought to the previous minister, and this minis= ter might have seen that letter too — really? Is that good for the planet= ? Or would it be better to leave that site there, managed the way it is?<= /p>
At the= meeting, there was a little bit of misinformation on the minister’s part. He talked about the liabilities that this dump has. Well, there are environmen= tal contaminant site liabilities in the Department of Environment. There are 23 Yukon government landfills on it, there are grader stations, and there are = all kinds of liabilities. We are not running out there closing grader stations = and closing a bunch of other places, because there is an environmental liabilit= y. The environmental liability is there from previous generations of all polit= ical stripes — that’s how they did it. We don’t do it that way anymore, but we still have to monitor those sites, and that’s somethi= ng that we have to accept. There are schools that have this — we aren’t closing the schools.
So, ma= ny letters have been written to the Premier and to the minister. The Kluane First Nati= on wrote a letter, and I want to quote from the letter: “Our government strongly objects to the lack of consultation and to the proposed implementation. Our citizens and local residents vehemently oppose these changes. We know this shortsighted action will = lead to: illegal dumping…” — also not good for the environment — “… illegal burning of waste…” — toxins not good for the environment — “… illegal burial of waste…” — not good for the environment and, of course, the “… human-wildlife conflicts.”
They g= o on to say that: “Further, the Implementation Working Group identified in the report has no Yukon First Nation representation. The decision to exclude the Yukon First Nations, despite them being listed as ‘partners’ throughout the Ministerial Committee on Solid Waste report, damages our tru= st in a shared path of reconciliation.”
On thi= s file, I would be remiss if I didn’t bring up some of the hard work of the loc= al residents — the residents in Keno. The residents in Keno wrote the Speaker, the MLA for Mayo-Tatchun, a letter with the same issues.
I̵= 7;m just wondering, if the Premier gets on his feet, if he can explain to me how thi= s is better for climate change and for the environment — closing these sit= es — by making more bears be destroyed, more garbage strung out all over= the planet, people starting to burn their waste or bury it. I just kind of wond= er if the Premier would comment on that.
Hon. Mr. Silver: Thank you to the member opposite for the question.
Let= 217;s go back to 2017. That’s when the Ministerial Committee on Solid Waste was struck — in October of that year — with a mandate to provide re= commendations for actions related to solid-waste management in the Yukon. The committee worked to produce a report. Their recommendations were then provided to the Minister of Community Services the following year.
We als= o know that we’re in a situation now where, moving forward — we’= ve been slowed down a bit by COVID, but bottom line — and I think the minister did a good job early this afternoon talking about modernizing and improving the territory’s waste system, the solid-waste management system, to make sure that our practices follow sustainable and nationally recognized standards in solid-waste management. We’re very, very committed to raising those standards at transfer stations and also at landf= ills right across the Yukon.
This m= eans that all sites, as the minister spoke to today, must have gates, they must have facility open hours and attendants monitoring what’s coming in and directing customers where to go with things — similarly, the tipping = fees as well.
The mi= nister spoke about the $12 million — that currently managing garbage and recycling in Yukon costs more than $12 million a year. We are working = to manage these escalating costs and to reduce the environmental risk. I do recognize that this initiative will mean changes to how some rural Yukoners manage their garbage and recycling, and I understand the frustrations that people have when government makes change. I recognize some of the comments = and questions from the member opposite as far as, as we get through the hurdles= and get to a new management system, there will be questions and concerns about = the modus operandi, but again, we are making good on the solid-waste committee struck back in 2017.
The co= mmittee had very specific recommendations: developing a user-fee pilot at Yukon government and municipal waste management sites; exploring improved househo= ld hazardous waste and waste‑oil collection programs and service levels; exploring organic diversion and compost programs in the communities; explor= ing waste transportation and collection efficiencies; and also advising the Minister of Community Services on solid waste, specifically focused on solid-waste governance models, stewardship, funding models, and service objectives.
When i= t comes to landfills and transfer stations, they require electrical power to improve t= he reliability of electric fences, to provide lighting and heat for attendant buildings, and to improve our ability to manage waste with the use of compactors. In using the compactors, we will reduce hauling costs by 30 per= cent to 50 percent. Facilities have been supplied with power recently. That incl= udes Champagne and Deep Creek, so the costs there — Champagne is $100,000,= and Deep Creek is $175,000. Grid power connections were also made in the Dawson= and Mayo landfills.
I unde= rstand the concerns from folks. I know that the minister was out and had a consultation with the community on this. We have talked about phase 1 of the implementat= ion in Whitehorse peripherals and those tipping fees. That was originally in pl= ace for April 2020, but of course, with COVID, it was delayed until August 1, 2= 020.
Again, implementing the recommendations of the committee is extremely important. T= here are going to be bumps along the way — absolutely — and we recog= nize that folks who are going to lose the way that they are normally used to get= ting rid of household items has changed, but we are moving forward on these recommendations. It is extremely important to municipalities, and it is something that the minister has taken on in earnest.
Mr. Istchenko: The Premier talks about the Solid Waste Advisory Committee and I know that the Solid Waste Advisory Committee — and the Premier campaigned his first time around to be Premier on “Be Heard”. That was a campaign commitment, but the residents of Keno and the residents of my riding in Sil= ver City — they weren’t consulted when it came to these recommendat= ions that the committee put forward. They weren’t part of that conversatio= n. Maybe if they had been part of that conversation, things would be different= .
I don&= #8217;t believe that conservation officer services got a fair shake at commenting on human-bear conflicts, and the EMR people who ma= nage gravel pits, and Community Services people who manage other things — = on where this waste is going to go.
The Pr= emier speaks often about — when he is going to do something, he says that this government will put a climate lens on this and look at it. So, by implement= ing these recommendations, I have mentioned to the Premier that the GHG emissio= ns are going to go up. It is going to be worse for the environment, so the Pre= mier is basically — I guess my question for him is: Sometimes, I guess, it= is okay for the Premier to implement the policy that is worse for the environm= ent than better for the environment?
Hon. Mr. Silver: I think we are just going to have to agree to disagree that th= is new approach isn’t going to be helpful to the environment. Will there be challenges along the way? Yes, there will be. Are departments adamant that = they will work through these and make sure that we continue to engage? Absolutel= y. We talked about the reduction of size and therefore more efficiencies in the plan, so the plan does identify the environment. I hope the member opposite= is not necessarily mocking an environmental lens — I hope that he suppor= ts it — because it is extremely important.
Again,= I think we will agree to disagree that this new approach, in the long run when it c= omes to how we pay for garbage, how we think about garbage, how we recycle ̵= 2; all of these things play into this bigger conversation. We have mentioned t= he money that the general taxpayers pay right now, and we have mentioned before the disparities between the Yukon Party and the Liberal approach with polluter-pay initiatives like carbon pricing, for example. The members opposite, in time, came on board with that. Hopefully, they will start to s= ee the importance of modernizing the system and moving forward on the recommendations, not only just for the municipalities and for the territori= al government, but also for the environment.
Mr. Istchenko: The Premier, obviously — agree to disagree. I guess I get that. I donR= 17;t understand the hesitation in listening to residents. Sometimes you just hav= e to change things on the fly. Maybe you didn’t consult. Maybe admit that = your information is wrong.
I thin= k that probably one of the biggest things for my constituents is that when they ta= ke the time to address an issue and write to the Premier, the Minister of Environment, and the Community Services minister and don’t even get r= ecognized — “Thank you for your correspondence, and we will get you an an= swer back” — that’s disappointing. I would hope that maybe som= e of the good people in Kluane and some of the people around the Yukon, up in Ke= no, would actually just maybe get a response back that says, “We agree to disagree and we’re closing your dump.” But not even getting a response back — that’s not cool. That’s all I have for to= day.
Hon. Mr. Silver: I am not really sure specifically what correspondence the memb= er opposite is speaking about in terms of no response. I agree that if somebody asks a question of the government or the ministers, regardless of the topic, they need this to be worked on.
If the= member opposite would like to let me know specifically who has not been answered — as far as my office — I would be very interested in that. I k= now that we have come a long way since the Yukon Party supported the burning of garbage across the territory in rural Yukon. We are moving forward on a modernization plan. If the member opposite has specific communities or constituents who have not received a response from our casework system or f= rom our departments, I would really like for him to share that information with= me.
Ms. Tredger: I would like to go to the Yukon Youth Panel on Climate Change, which my colle= ague brought up. I’m hoping that the Premier can clarify some of his comme= nts about that. I believe what I heard him say was that the government is going= to prioritize the recommendations that have the biggest impact on climate chan= ge. Honestly, when I heard that, it felt a bit worrying because I have no doubt that every single recommendation in here was there for a reason. I’m = sure they had many, many more that they could have thought of and have already prioritized as best that they could.
I̵= 7;m wondering if the Premier can clarify: Do they intend to implement all the recommendations in this plan?
Hon. Mr. Silver: I’m not really sure why the member opposite is surprised= that we would be focusing in on those recommendations that have the most adverse effects on climate change.
We hea= rd the Leader of the Third Party talk about how we need action now, so that’s what we’re talking about. The prioritization will be based upon a cli= mate lens. Again, we will have time to go through those recommendations and we w= ill respond in kind.
I do w= ant to thank the youth panel for their recommendations and their passion. Again, I think that it’s important to focus in on climate change when it comes= to the Youth Panel on Climate Change. Our priorities will be making sure that = we make recommendations and policy, moving forward, that have the best effect = on achieving our goals through our climate change plan.
Ms. Tredger: One of those recommendations, in particular, is to — this is number 4 of recommendation 4 — and I quote: “Respect and adhere to the inhe= rent right of First Nations to determine when hunting and other subsistence activities may occur within their respective traditional territories.”= ;
I want= ed to ask about this government’s approach to working with First Nations on hun= ting rights. In August 2021, Liard First Nation issued a hunting ban for parts of their traditional territory. In previous years, the Ross River Dena Council= had done the same thing. I was very concerned to read the statement — the press release from the Yukon government — on this. It starts by saying that they are aware of these requests, and then the very next thing it says= is that licensed hunters do not require permission to hunt on non-settlement l= ands in any traditional territory.
What t= hat says to me is that they can ask, but you don’t have to listen. That is not consistent with the spirit of reconciliation, and it is certainly not consistent with this recommendation that First Nations have the right to determine what hunting and other subsistence activities occur within their traditional territories.
My que= stion is: Does the government intend to continue with their current approach of telli= ng hunters to disregard what First Nations ask for, or are they planning to ch= ange that and follow the recommendation of the Yukon Youth Panel on Climate Chan= ge?
Hon. Mr. Silver: I will start by saying that our government and the Ross River = Dena Council work together on identifying and advancing shared interests and priorities, including anything from mineral exploration and development to wildlife and fish, capacity development, and economic opportunities. We will continue to collaboratively work with the Ross River Dena Council to put fo= rth positive outcomes for their members and benefits for all Yukoners as well.<= /span>
We are= aware that the Ross River Dena Council is concerned about hunting by individuals = who do not reside in the Kaska traditional territor= y. Though the Wildlife Act applies throughout the Yukon and includes the right to access public lands, it is e= very hunter’s responsibility to make sure that they know the rules about access and permissions that apply to hunting.
Ms. Tredger: I would like to ask about another one of the recommendations. This is under recommendation 1(5): “Make Yukon University tuition-free for all Nort= hern youth, including Indigenous youth from transboundary northern nations and y= outh from northern British Columbia.”
Is this something that the Liberal government is considering doing?
Hon. Mr. Silver: Again, I don’t have any update as far as the recommendat= ions from the youth panel. I know that Education is up for debate as well, but I don’t have anything new to share with the member opposite on that.
Ms. Tredger: I don’t think that the NDP can let a budget cycle go by without asking about the protection of species at risk. It is the 25th annivers= ary of the Yukon government’s commitment to develop species-at-risk legislation. That is a quarter of a century that we have been waiting for t= his legislation.
In 201= 9, the then-Minister of Environment said, “The Yukon Government is currently working to develop a Yukon Species at R= isk Act.”. I wonder if the Premier could give us an update on where that legislation is at.
Hon. Mr. Silver: As we know, most other jurisdictions have legislative tools to= list and to conserve species at risk. Such legislative tools are also a priority= for our government. With foresight and planning, the Yukon has an opportunity to benefit from hard lessons that have been learned in other jurisdictions = 212; other parts of Canada and the world — to prevent the endangerment of species such as woodland caribou and grizzly bears as our territory further develops, whether that be through infrastructure or through the economy. A = timeline to complete a new legislative framework for species at risk depends on seve= ral factors. These include determining how new legislation would interact with existing federal and territorial laws and requirements.
In the= interim, we continue to actively manage and steward species at risk using various existing legislative tools. These include the boreal caribou section 11 conservation agreement signed in 2019 with Canada, with the First Nation of= Na‑Cho Nyäk Dun, and the Gwich’in Tribal Council = to protect species and their critical habitat.
WeR= 17;ll continue to work collaboratively with our partners in the territory, includ= ing First Nation governments, the Inuvialuit, wildlife management boards and councils, and also interested groups and other government orders on species-at-risk conservation. Our efforts to ensure that species, such as w= ood bison, woodland caribou, and grizzly bears, continue to have viable populat= ions — it is extremely important, and it needs to be guided by the managem= ent plans of the Yukon government, developed with First Nations, the Inuvialuit= and also the wildlife management advisory councils, the North Slope, and the Yu= kon Fish and Wildlife Management Board.
The Yu= kon Conservation Data Centre also continues to track the locations and status of lesser known and globally rare species that are maybe Beringian in origin — to identify those that are unique to northwestern North America. Th= is information is used in global reports on biodiversity change as well as environmental assessments.
Work is continuing on. I don’t have any specific updates for the member oppos= ite with her specific question, but our platform identified to prioritize the development of legislation to protect species at risk, and we will continue= on that path.
Ms. Tredger: Madam Chair, I would also like to ask about an item in the Environment budget, wh= ich I believe will not be called, because there is not a net appropriation. Und= er parks and boat launch dock replacement, just over $1.1 million has been cut from that budget. Could the Premier tell us what that cut is and what projects have been cut?
Hon. Mr. Silver: Second round of specific dock questions — I will have to= get back to the member opposite.
Ms. Tredger: Thank you. I would appreciate that information and perhaps with it there could be= a list of the boat launch and dock replacements that are planned for this year and if that has changed.
With t= hat, I will conclude my questions for today.
Ms. White: Madam Chair, just a quick question for the Premier: I am just trying to decipher = an OIC from 2016 — the Order to Establish an Inqui= ry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls — just asking if this was part of the national inquiry because it is under the Public Inquiries Act.
Hon. Mr. Silver: Madam Chair, I hope that the member opposite would give me a l= ittle time to get back to her on a very specific question on an order-in-council = from 2016 here in general debate on the supplementary budget. I do know that the advisory committee on murdered and missing indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit-plus works very closely with Yukon First Nations, with Yukon indigenous women’s groups and families represented, as well, to final= ize Changing the Story to Upholding Dignit= y and Justice. Again, our strategy — the Yukon — the first respon= se to the national inquiry was released on December 10, 2020, in ceremony at t= he Kwanlin Dün Cultural= Centre.
The ad= visory committee has created a technical working group to write the implementation= plan for Yukon’s strategy and also the technical working group, including representatives from indigenous women’s organizations, family members, and technical experts — all as required, obviously. All partners and signatories, including other levels of government, will have the opportunit= y to provide input to that implementation plan — lots of work that has alr= eady been underway and also what should be planned for the future.
I do k= now that, as far as finances go, the department has allocated $200,000 in 2021-22 to support the accountability forum in early 2022 for partners, signatories, a= nd family members. Preliminary discussions have been started with the Yukon advisory committee and that event is being planned. Regarding a specific order-in-council, I will have to get back to the member opposite. = p>
Chair: Is th= ere any further general debate on Bill No. 202, Second Appropriation Act 2021-22?
Seeing= none, we will proceed to clause 1. Clause 1 includes the bill’s schedules. Amo= ng the bill’s schedules is Schedule A, containing the departmental votes= .
The ma= tter now before the Committee is Vote 53, Department of Energy, Mines and Resources. Vote 53 begins at page 3-1 of the estimates booklet.
Would = members like to take a brief recess?
All Hon. Members: Agreed.
Chair: Commi= ttee of the Whole will recess for 15 minutes.
Recess
Chair: Commi= ttee of the Whole will now come to order.
The ma= tter now before the Committee is general debate on Vote 53, Energy, Mines and Resour= ces, in Bill No. 202, entitled Second Ap= propriation Act 2021-22.
Department of Energy, Mines and Resources
Hon. Mr. Streicker: <= span lang=3DEN-CA>To begin with, I would like to welcome to the Legislature Depu= ty Minister John Bailey and Assistant Deputy Minister Shirley Abercrombie. Just for a moment, I would like to give a little bit of a shout-out to Ms. = Abercrombie because she has just let us know that, later this year, she is retiring aft= er several decades of service to Yukoners.
I firs= t met Ms. Abercrombie back about 15 years ago, when she was part of the advisory board for the Northern Climate ExChange at Yukon University, = then Yukon College. My experience with her has always been terrific. She has been such a great person to work with, and I just want to say thank you to her, = as I first stand — and I’m sure colleagues will also send their than= ks.
Madam = Chair, I am rising to present the 2021-22 supplementary budget for the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources. I will give a few introductory remarks. I won’t try to go for very long, but just enough to talk about those aspects of the budget.
The De= partment of Energy, Mines and Resources has a very important role in regulating the responsible development of our natural resources, and it’s a diverse department covering the mining, agriculture, oil and gas, land, forestry, a= nd energy sectors. There is a lot there. Over the past year, I know that the department has been working very hard on several fronts with forestry, as we have had questions here in the Legislature about firewood and about supply,= and a lot of work on biomass, as well, with agriculture on our new strategy “Cultivating Our Future”.
With e= nergy, we have heard questions today about Our Clean Future and about how we’re shifting our energy economy. It’s incredibly important work for the Yukon and for Canada and the world. With our Land Management branch, and our Land Planning branch, they = have had a lot of work — whether it’s on resource roads or whether it’s on the Dawson land use planning that’s underway right now — by the way, comments are due by November 1, and I encourage everyon= e to get their comments in — or our minerals branch. Whether it’s ac= tive mines or past mines, they’re doing work to make sure that all of that work is safe, secure, and remediated as necessary, and then we’re wor= king on successor legislation. So, it’s a lot of work. I just want to begi= n by saying thank you so much to the department for all of the tremendous work t= hat they have been doing over the past year.
The pa= st year has been one like no other and not just because of COVID — but as well because of COVID — but many land and resource sectors were significan= tly affected by the pandemic. At the same time, most resource activities still continued to some degree, meaning that the hard-working staff at Energy, Mi= nes and Resources had to be innovative and adaptable to continue to carry out t= heir duties. There is quite a range of initiatives and services happening across= all the branches, as I just delineated. I’m pleased today to speak to a f= ew of those that are in the supplementary budget.
Let me= just talk. Our total operation and maintenance appropriations are estimated at j= ust under $71.5 million, which is an $8.1‑million increase from last year. The net increase is primarily a result of increased funding for water treatment and to conduct care and maintenance at Wolverine mine and funding= to implement Our Clean Future.
Under = capital, the total capital appropriations are estimated at $1 million, which represents $537,000 — or a significant increase from last year’s capital budget. This increase is primarily due to increased funding to enab= le the purchase of new electric vehicle charging stations, which I’m sure we’re all very excited about.
When i= t comes to revenues, taxes and general revenues for the department are estimated to be $2.8 million, the bulk of which — $2 million — are revenues from fees collected related to: leases, permits and royalties; pla= cer mining fees; quartz mining fees and leases; and maps and publications. This revenue amount is similar to past years and indicates overall stability in = activity levels anticipated from the Land Management and Mineral Resources branches.=
Third-= party operation and maintenance recoveries are estimated at $13,000. This is a sm= all number — comparatively, of course — and this is a decrease main= ly due to changes in the balance of securities used to address the Wolverine m= ine activities.
Recove= ries from the Government of Canada this year are at $16.6 million. The recoveries overall are up by nearly half‑a‑million dollars from last year. This increase is associated with minor work plan adjustments for type 2 mine sites, which have slightly altered the amount of the agreement, and $200,00= 0 in capital to help with the purchase of electric vehicle charging infrastructu= re.
Just to highlight that a net of a $6.8‑million increase in the other category, under the budget, is associated with new funding for Our Clean Future and for Wolverine work plans. Government trans= fers are budgeted at $11.8 million, an increase of $1.9 million from l= ast year’s $9.8 million. This increase in transfers is primarily due= to an additional $1.7 million in = Our Clean Future funding for residential and commercial energy.
Madam = Chair, let me just leave it there for right now. I am happy to get into debate with colleagues and answer their questions. I will highlight more around the det= ails as their questions lead.
Mr. Kent: I thank the minister for his opening comments. I welcome Mr. Bailey and = Ms. Abercrombie. I have had the opportunity to work with Shirley for a number of years as a former minister, and her public service has been exemplary. I thank you for= all your years of service and wish you well in retirement. I wish whoever succe= eds you well in packing around that great big binder that I know is over there = by your desk and that you use to provide assistance to the minister here this afternoon.
Again,= I thank the minister for his opening remarks and I thank officials for the briefing that they provided us on the supplementary estimates. Of course, members wi= ll know that the last time we had a full Spring Sitting was in 2019. I am sure= it won’t surprise that I do have a number of policy questions and will be catching up with the new minister on a number of different aspects when it comes to the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources.
Actual= ly, the first issue that I wanted to start with is the Yukon Minerals Advisory Boar= d. Obviously, this was a board that was set up in 1999 as an advisory board to= the minister on mining issues. It was set up pursuant to section 9 of the Economic Development Act and then a ministerial order put it into effect. In that ministerial order, it says: “The Board shall submit to the Minister by May 1 of each year a repor= t on the activities of the Board during the preceding calendar year, including if requested by the Minister a report on the Board’s recommendations dur= ing the preceding year.” That is section 2(3) of that ministerial order f= rom 1999.
When I= went on yukon.ca, the most recent Minerals Advisory Board report that I can find is from 2018. When you go by this ministerial order, we should have 2019 and 2= 020 also provided to the minister. There used to be a practice of tabling these reports in the Legislative Assembly that the minister’s predecessor w= ent away from during his time. I am curious if the minister can tell me if ther= e is a 2019 and 2020 report, and if so, where can I find those reports?= p>
Hon. Mr. Streicker: <= span lang=3DEN-CA>We just sat down with the Yukon Minerals Advisory Board quite recently. The deputy minister and I had a great conversation with them. It = was talking about the 2020 report. My recollection is that the 2019 report that they submitted was, I think, just referring to the PricewaterhouseCoopers report. I will have to check on that to be sure, but I will find where that= is and make sure that I either point that to the member opposite or table it h= ere in the Legislature so that everybody can have it.
The 20= 20 report is in development as we speak. The Minerals Advisory Board has been working with a draft and working with the department, so I think it will be out a little later this fall. I will advise as soon as I see that coming forward.=
If the= re are further questions, I am happy to answer them.
Mr. Kent: Can the minister explain: Have there been any discussions with the Minerals Advisory Board about why that 2020 report didn’t meet the May 1 deadl= ine and if we are planning to go back to that May 1 deadline in 2022, which wou= ld be the tabling of the 2021 report?
Hon. Mr. Streicker: <= span lang=3DEN-CA>I think that it is predominantly one reason and a little bit o= f a second reason; the main reason is just COVID. Things stretched out and the Minerals Advisory Board talked to us about the challenges that the sector w= as facing and just trying to navigate. I think that was fair when I heard them talk about that explanation.
I thin= k another smaller reason is that we have just transitioned chairs of the board, and I think there has been a little bit of change there. I want to say that, in sitting down with the board, I am very impressed with their perspectives, t= heir interest, their focus, and their attention to providing advice as a board. = I am pretty sure that things will be back on track shortly.
Mr. Kent: So, yes, we will hopefully look forward to getting that report prior to May 1 of next year — for this calendar year — and I will forward to the minister looking into where the 2019 report is. If that can be tabled or uploaded to the website, that would be very helpful.
I touc= hed on this with the Premier during general debate, and I am curious if the minist= er is able to provide us with some information with respect to the issuance of= the decision document for the Kudz Ze Kayah project. Obviously, the Premier mentioned that not much work had been done = over the past number of months, as the federal government, which is one of the decision bodies, is in caretaker mode. But now that the Cabinet has been na= med, have there been additional meetings scheduled with respect to the issuance = of that decision document, as far as the minister knows?
Hon. Mr. Streicker: <= span lang=3DEN-CA>Mining and mineral exploration remain of central importance to= the Yukon’s economy and contributing significantly to the territory’= ;s economic performance throughout the pandemic. I think that we were one of o= nly two jurisdictions that saw GDP growth in 2020, and that was largely thanks = to mining, and that was only because mining was done safely. If I can just giv= e a shout-out to the mining sector — I know that they worked very hard to= put in place safe plans around COVID, and I think that we are on a good footing because of that.
With r= espect to the specific question from the member opposite — have meetings been scheduled around Kudz Ze K= ayah with the federal government? The answer is yes. We just saw the announcement today of the new federal Cabinet, so I downloaded that information to see w= ho had Fisheries and Oceans and who had Natural Resources, and I am looking forward to ongoing dialogue around Kudz Ze Kayah.
Mr. Kent: Sorry, perhaps the minister mentioned it, but he did mention there are meetings scheduled. When is the next meeting scheduled with respect to that specific decision document? One of the things that we would be hoping is that there could be some sort of signal given on when a decision document for this pro= ject will be issued.
As the= minister no doubt knows, the draft screening report was put out by YESAB, and then it was consulted on again. I think it’s coming up on two yea= rs ago this fall that this situation took place. There have been a number of o= ther delays — obviously, the federal government referring the final screen= ing report back to the executive committee. I know that the company has been ve= ry patient, but I’m curious if the minister has any indication on when a decision document will be issued for this project.
Hon. Mr. Streicker: <= span lang=3DEN-CA>I think we were also disappointed with the federal government’s decision to refer the recommendations for the Kudz Ze Kayah project bac= k to the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board executive committee= for reconsideration, so I share that concern.
I don&= #8217;t have the ability to stand today and say: “Here’s the time when = we can expect a decision.” What I can say is that I ask for a briefing on this issue weekly from the department. I know that, as well, major projects within the Executive Council Office is also working on this. So, I think we are, at all times, trying to advance this and to work diligently. = p>
We wor= k, as well, to stay engaged and in dialogue with the Kaska= span> — both the Liard First Nation and specifically the Ross River Dena Council. I’m not able, here during the budget debate, to give an expectation for the timeline, but I can say that I continue to request that= the department work diligently with other governments.
Mr. Kent: I just quickly want to pivot to another decision document that is pending. Obviously, these are executive committee screenings, so I know that it is n= ot the minister who has the lead on them, but this is the Quill Creek forestry decision document. I know that YESAB put out th= eir recommendation. I have a couple of questions for the minister, because I didn’t get a chance to look it up: Is the Yukon government the only decision body, or is there a federal decision body with respect to that particular project? Given the tenuous circumstances around firewood supply = this winter and some of the costs that we’re seeing — and some of the other things that we are hearing about — I know that individuals in t= he Member for Kluane’s riding are quite anxious to see this decision document come forward, so can the minister give us any sort of an update on= the decision document for Quill Creek?
Hon. Mr. Streicker: <= span lang=3DEN-CA>First of all, after we met with the wood producers’ association — with the Official Opposition House Leader, the Leader of the Official Opposition, and the Third Party House Leader — and we he= ard their original concerns, we had a lot of conversation about Quill Creek at = that time. One of the things that the department and I did was to sit down with = the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board to try to make sure that these things were moving along. I thank the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board for issuing their recommendation. = p>
I can = advise you, Madam Chair, and the House, that it is just the Yukon government that = is the decision body, so, there’s no one else. I can also advise that we= are not going to be sending this back to the executive committee — that we are working through the recommendations as they have been given. We are wor= king closely with the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, of course, on this, = and I think that our hope is that we get to a decision in the next month or mon= ths, but this calendar year is what I think that we are working toward.= p>
I can = also advise that, when we were told that there was a shortage in the supply for = firewood suppliers — wood suppliers, the cutters — the forest resource branch worked to get access to other cut blocks right away. So, Quill Creek= , as you may know, Madam Chair, is in the Haines Junction area. It is a very lar= ge project, and that is why it went to the executive committee — it was = the size of the project that got it there — but we got two other harvest blocks in through YESAB, and they have now been approved. So, I think those two blocks together are 4,400 cords. It was to = get at the immediate supply, and I am happy to answer further questions.=
Mr. Kent:Q= 95;I think that the minister said, by the end of the calendar year, they are anticipating getting that decision document on Quill Creek. Can the minister explain how long after that before permits are issued? I know that there are some roads that will need to be upgraded in that area, in talking with the harvesters there. Obviously, this is a significant concern for many Yukoner= s, including seniors and elders who live in our community and rely on the commercial cutters to deliver wood to their homes.
I gues= s the other question that I would have for the minister is with respect to these other cut blocks — the 4,400 cords, I believe, was the number he used. Has there been uptake? I apologize if he already said it, but if he could t= ell us where those cut blocks are, that would be great.
Hon. Mr. Streicker: <= span lang=3DEN-CA>First of all, I don’t have an exact location, but they a= re in the Haines Junction area. I know that they are now permitted — I am referring first here to the two cut blocks that we worked to get available = for the harvester immediately in Haines Junction — I guess it is harveste= rs, but there is generally one who has this work and does the work — for = the 4,400 cords. So, my understanding is that they are permitted, and the only thing that needed to happen was frozen ground, and the operator is able to = go in. I will ask the resource branch to make sure that the ground is frozen a= nd the operator is good to go, but that’s my understanding, that they are good to go now.
Operat= ors choose — sometimes on their own accord — when they want to go and cut,= so, sometimes that is not all within our control. With respect to Quill Creek — and I think that the decision document — I said that we hoped that it would come out this calendar year, and my understanding is that the permit for harvesters to go in would be available this calendar year so that they could get in as quickly as possible. Again, the direction that I gave = to the department after we met with the wood producers’ association was = to please work to support the wood producers’ association, and there are other areas where the branch has been working to support personal firewood-cutting areas and access, et cetera. So, they have been working diligently to address the short-term shortage and then to talk longer term about how we can get more productive around wood supply, because we think t= hat this is an important piece, for example, of Our Clean Future.
Mr. Kent: I will return to some forestry questions a little bit later on — or if = we get time to come back to EMR on another date = 8212; but I do have a number of other questions that I wanted to ask the minister. Those previous two were focused mostly on the decision documents. That̵= 7;s why they were grouped together.
I did = want to ask a series of questions regarding a news release that came out on August = 30 of this year, the title of which was — I’ll just paraphrase = 212; that the Vangorda Plateau portion of the Faro m= ine site was acquired by Ross River Dena Council’s development corporation and Broden Mining partnership. I know that, tal= king to the Premier in general debate and then earlier today about the BMC Kudz Ze Kayah decision do= cument, a lot of that work was paused during the federal election and the subsequent time since the election date as the Cabinet is being formed because the government is in caretaker mode, but I’m curious why this joint news release with Ross River Dena Council and Broden Mining was put out during the actual writ period. If the minister could exp= lain why the government made this joint announcement that involved the Governmen= t of Canada during the writ period, I would appreciate hearing his thoughts on t= hat.
Hon. Mr. Streicker: <= span lang=3DEN-CA>What I will say about this announcement is that it was really = about working in support of the Ross River Dena Council and the Tse Zul Development Corporation as they moved to ac= quire and assess the development potential of the Vangorda= span> lands, which is on their traditional territory — their asserted traditional territory.
Our in= volvement was at their request — and to announce — I don’t wish to comment about the federal government. We were approached by the Ross River = Dena Council and we supported them in their announcement.
Mr. Kent: The first paragraph of this joint news release, which was put out with the Yukon government letterhead and the letterhead of RRDC, says: “The Government of Yukon, Government of Canada, Ross River Dena Council and private entity Broden Mining have a= greed on the basic terms and framework for the sale of mining claims and leases on the Vangorda plateau portion of the Faro mine s= ite and neighbouring lands to the east of the plateau.”
So, my= question for the minister was — I mentioned the August 30 date that this was announced. That was right during the federal election, during the campaign period. We have heard from the minister and the Premier with respect to the other decision document — for instance, on Kudz<= /span> Ze Kayah — that the meetings and work were paused around that during the election and because of the caretaker mode, essentially, that the federal government was in.
I will= just ask the minister again: Why did the Government of Yukon put this announcement o= ut that involved the Government of Canada during the actual election period? It’s very rare that anything like this would happen, and I am curious= why this announcement was made during the election by the Yukon government in a joint release involving the Government of Canada.
Hon. Mr. Streicker: <= span lang=3DEN-CA>I will just provide a little bit of context. Vangorda is attached to the Faro mine site, so Faro is really a federal responsibili= ty around remediation. I believe that this had been worked on for years. It is quite possible — I don’t know the answer to this — that t= he work could have been supported by the federal government and that it was ju= st waiting for Ross River Dena Council to arrive at an announcement.
Again,= I will not speak here for the federal government. That is not my role, but I will = say that this project is a good project. Just looking at the press release, it = is about a brownfield site, the Vangorda Plateau, = and it has two open pit mines that had already undergone significant environmental disturbance.
The an= nouncement here is: “The Ross River Dena Council, through Dena Nezziddi LP and Broden Mining Ltd., have formed the Tse Zul Development Corpo= ration to acquire and assess the development potential of the Vangorda Lands within the traditional Ross River Kaska D= ena territory.”
ItR= 17;s a brownfield project. I always am encouraged to see brownfield projects becau= se it often means that we can turn an environmental challenge into an economic opportunity. It’s great when we can get the environment and the econo= my working together. I think that this is one of those instances.
The me= mber is concerned with the timing. I am expressing that, in terms of timing, all I looked at was the request from the Ross River Dena Council. From our perspective, supporting this process is an important step toward reconcilia= tion with the Kaska Dena Council and it provided a s= ignificant opportunity for renewed socio-economic and cultural growth in the area. That was why we signed on to this press release. What I will say is that if the member is concerned and once a new minister in place, I will pose the quest= ion to ask what the federal government choices were around this. I will be happ= y if I get any sort of response to share back, but this is the federal government that I’m being asked about.
Mr. Kent: I will have to come back on this with the minister because I’m not gett= ing a response to the questions that I am seeking answers to.
The mi= nister mentioned that, of course, these claims are part of the Faro block of claim= s. It is a type 2 site. The Yukon government under the previous minister, I believe, turned over the management of that site. It has always been manage= d by the federal government, but they have primary responsibility rather than the Yukon Assessment and Abandoned Mines. This August 30 press release — again, I am sure we were about halfway through the federal election campaign when this news release came out — was a joint release from the Yukon government, Ross River Dena Council, and Broden Mining, but it involved the Government of Canada. I am curious why the mini= ster wouldn’t have directed officials to check with the Government of Cana= da prior to putting out a release about something that is a federal responsibi= lity halfway through a federal election campaign.
Hon. Mr. Streicker: <= span lang=3DEN-CA>First of all, I would just like to let everybody know that the PricewaterhouseCoopers report was tabled here in the Legislature as the Yuk= on Minerals Advisory Board’s 2019 report and posted on the Yukon Assembly webpage. I will try to look back to find out when that happened, but it happened last year.
Again,= the member is concerned with the federal government’s choices. I thank him for expressing that concern. I have offered to share his concerns with the federal government. I am not sure what else he would like me to say. I am h= appy to see Ross River Dena Council moving forward on a brownfield project, and = that is why I added my name to a press release — or it shouldn’t be about me, but the Yukon government, including my role as Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources. I think that this is a good project. I am happy to ans= wer questions about why I believe that to be a good project and why we signed o= n.
Mr. Kent: I agree that this project is a good project. The minister was correct in sayi= ng that discussions around this go back a number of years. It goes back to my = time as Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, and I am sure that we are going= to talk a little bit, as the afternoon goes on, about the specific terms of th= is agreement and how it was reached.
But ag= ain, the point that I am trying to make is that this announcement, this press releas= e, was put out halfway through the federal election campaign. It involved the Government of Canada — it specifically references the Government of Canada in the news release — and I am curious if the minister felt li= ke this would be any sort of election interference. I guess that is exactly wh= at I’m trying to get to the bottom of.
Again,= we have heard from the minister and the Premier about other projects involving the federal government that have been delayed, like the Ku= dz Ze Kayah decision document, because of the care= taker mode. This was right during the middle of the election campaign that a press release was put out that referenced the Government of Canada, and I’m curious if the minister felt like there would be any sort of concerns around election interference with a press release that references Government of Ca= nada — essentially — assets, as they are the owners of those claim blocks, and the Government of Canada itself agreeing on these basic terms a= nd framework. Why couldn’t this announcement have waited until after tod= ay, which is the day the federal Cabinet was sworn in?
Hon. Mr. Streicker: <= span lang=3DEN-CA>I’m happy to continue to stand and respond to our role i= n this press release. I will say to the member opposite that, when it was presente= d to me, I focused on our role. That’s what I was focusing on.
The me= mber is asking about the federal government. I would be happy to direct those quest= ions to the federal government. I am saying that we put our name alongside a pro= ject that we knew had been worked on for years — and the member has just indicated that it had been worked on when he was in the role of Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources. We were approached by the Ross River Dena Coun= cil to join them in a press release that they wanted to make. I think that we signed on to that press release to show our support for what we believe is a good project.
The me= mber can continue to ask me about the federal government, and I will continue to say that I’m happy to direct those questions to the federal government. <= /span>
Mr. Kent:Q= 95;Just to clarify for the minister, it wasn’t this specific deal that has be= en worked on for years. This specific deal, involving Bro= den Mining as the private entity, is something that has emerged since our time = in government. So, that’s something that either emerged during the previ= ous term of the Liberal government or this current one, since the spring electi= on.
One of= the things that concerns me about the perception of election interference here = is that we have seen it before, with an announcement just days ahead of the Li= ard First Nation election, where the previous Liberal government made some announcements that caused quite a bit of concern in that community, and the= re were some concerns that the announcement at the time could have been percei= ved as election interference. That is why we asked this question. The minister = says he was focused primarily on the Government of Yukon’s role, but the Government of Canada is a major player in this, and this was halfway throug= h a campaign, so, there could be the perception of election interference in iss= uing this press release involving the sale of mining claims.
Back t= o the Liard First Nation — it was the newly elected Liard First Nation chief who was accusing the Yukon government of interfering with the election at t= hat time. Again, there is a pattern here, and that is why we are extremely concerned with this news release going out during the actual writ period, or during the election campaign. Again, I am curious why the minister didnR= 17;t think that perhaps it was inappropriate to put this announcement out during= an election campaign, referencing the Government of Canada.
Hon. Mr. Streicker: <= span lang=3DEN-CA>I have just been informed by officials that Canada did review = this, so whoever would have been in the caretaker role did approve it. Again, the point of the press release was to talk about a good project that has been in development for years, where we were indicating our support for the Ross Ri= ver Dena Council and for the project.
Again,= I thank the member opposite for the opportunity to stand up and talk about this good project, and again, I do not speak for the federal government. I will conti= nue to say that I think that this is a good project, and I think that, when we signed on to the press release, I was happy to be part of that announcement= and to show our support. As I have already stated, we think that this is a good partnership opportunity, and it provides an opportunity for responsible min= ing in a brownfield area. This project has the potential to bring real benefits= to Ross River and nearby communities. So, that is why I signed on to this press release, and I am happy to say that here during Committee of the Whole.
Mr. Kent:Q= 95;The minister, in his previous response, did say that this was reviewed by Canad= a, so I am assuming that it was signed off by Canada. I am interested in that, just because this seems like something more than what would be involved wit= h a caretaker government, but that said, that is not the responsibility of the minister — it is the responsibility of Canada, and perhaps my questio= ns would be better directed to Elections Canada or the Government of Canada, s= o, I will do so to get a sense of what their feelings are with respect to this n= ews release issued during the election period.
I do w= ant to talk a little bit about the deal itself, where the private entity, Broden Mining, is in partnership with the Ross River Development Corporation, forming this new development corporation to acquire these assets of the Vangorda lands. Obviously, I agree with the minister that this is a good project, and we look forward to= the economic opportunities and the benefits it creates, but when we look at sim= ilar projects in the past, whether it’s Keno Hill or = Alexco, at that time, there was a competitive process between = Alexco and another group — I believe maybe groups — to acquire those assets from the federal government. The more recent example that we have se= en is Mount Nansen, where, again, we saw a competitive process to acquire the assets.
So, so= me individuals I have been talking to who are involved in the mining industry = up here are curious as to why there was no competitive process with respect to this particular project. Essentially, it looks to them — and it looks= to us — that Broden Mining was given a sole&= #8209;sourced opportunity to acquire these assets and develop these assets that have the potential to be worth millions, if not hundreds of millions, of dollars. = span>
I am c= urious as to why, in those other two processes, it was competitive, but when it came = to this one, there appears to have been a sole‑sourcing to Broden Mining.
Hon. Mr. Streicker: <= span lang=3DEN-CA>I believe that I will have to pass this question on. My understanding is that the terms of the transfer of the property were develo= ped through discussions between the Government of Canada and the Ross River Dena Council. I don’t have an answer for the member opposite on how that worked, but I can say that, when Ross River reached out to us, they indicat= ed that they were supportive of the project. I think that this is an important thing. I understand the member opposite’s question, but I will have to redirect.
Mr. Kent: I will redirect the minister then back to the news release that he had said he was happy to add his quote to, and in the very first paragraph, it says, “= ;The Government of Yukon, Government of Canada, Ross River Dena Council and priv= ate entity Broden Mining have agreed on the basic t= erms and framework for the sale of mining claims and leases on the Vangorda plateau …” That portion of the p= ress release would suggest that the Government of Yukon did have a role in these basic terms and framework for the sale, so, I am curious why the minister is not able to offer any comment on that and instead is referring to the Government of Canada. If, as the press release reads — again, it was a joint press release that the Yukon was a part of — it said that they = did have a role in getting these assets — these claims and leases — with the basic terms and framework for the sale. Is the minister saying that the Yukon government doesn’t have a role, as the press release sugges= ts? Perhaps he could explain why the press release reads this way.
Hon. Mr. Streicker: <= span lang=3DEN-CA>I’ll reach back to the department to ask about the terms= and the framework and what aspects we’re involved with, either in a direct role or supporting role.
What I understand is that Canada worked with the Ross River Dena Council and asked= the Ross River Dena Council who they would like to partner with, and this was a focus on reconciliation and impacts of Faro over the years. What I’m being informed is that this is how Canada worked with the Ross River Dena Council. Ross River Dena Council, I think, identified where they wished to partner and that’s how it came forward.
Again,= I will ask the department to clarify for me about our involvement with terms, but broadly, the Faro site is the Government of Canada’s responsibility to see remediation. Vangorda is part of that; it= 8217;s a brownfield.
In the= past, as we know, when Faro was first developed, there was really not much involveme= nt with First Nations at all. Now, this is an opportunity, I think, for a new path, a new future, and I thank the member opposite for indicating that he, too, supports this project. I will seek to get further answers.
Mr. Kent: While we support the project itself, what we are having difficulty with is the process to arrive at the awarding of the project to Br= oden Mining. The minister said that it was part of reconciliation and the Ross R= iver Dena Council brought Broden Mining to the table= . I guess, then, my question for the minister is: Why was Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation or the Na-Cho Nyäk Dun First = Nation not afforded the same opportunity to pick and choose the proponent for Mount Nansen — as in the case of Little Salmon Carmacks — and Keno Hi= ll? Those both went through competitive processes. Then, of course, as part of those competitive processes, there would have been involvement of the First Nation. I am curious as to why there is such a departure in process here, w= ith respect to Faro, as opposed to what we saw with Mount Nansen and Keno Hill.=
Hon. Mr. Streicker: <= span lang=3DEN-CA>The member is asking about Mount Nansen and Keno. I would have= to look back in time to understand when those agreements were reached, but I t= hink that we are talking about an evolution of how this work proceeds. I think t= hat it is good that we are talking about ways of looking at reconciliation. I t= hink that is very important when we talk about these types of projects. <= /p>
Yes, I= think that it is different. I think that it is notably different, and I actually think that the way we are doing it now is an improvement over the ways in w= hich it was done in the past. It doesn’t mean that there aren’t ways= to improve it still, but I think that this does mark a difference in how this = work evolves and that it is more focused on affected communities, including the First Nations on whose traditional territory this work is happening.=
Mr. Kent: So, just for the minister, the Mount Nansen deal was in 2019. That would have b= een done by his predecessor in the role as Minister of Energy, Mines and Resour= ces. Again, it was a competitive process. It wasn’t that long ago. =
Keno H= ill dates back further obviously, but the Mount Nansen near Carmacks was within the l= ast couple of years, I believe — that the deal has closed with respect to= the award.
Again,= what we’re hearing from industry is that — and again, the people whom I’ve been talking to in industry, like us, are supportive of this pro= ject but very concerned about the process that picked the private sector partner — the Broden Mining. So, again, my questi= on to the minister is perhaps: What would he recommend that I tell all of those industry players who would have welcomed an opportunity to submit a bid on = the eastern portion of the Faro project — the Vangor= da Plateau portion — and found out instead, in a news release, that Broden Mining was essentially sole‑sourced the = opportunity to be the private sector partner?
Hon. Mr. Streicker: <= span lang=3DEN-CA>Let me make a bit of a commitment here. The member has a lot of questions about the process around this. The process definitely involved the federal government. Let me reach out and get some sort of fuller response.<= /span>
I will= continue to answer questions, but I will just try to investigate it a bit further to= not only answer his questions, but the questions from people within the industry who are posing the questions to him. That’s great.
I will= say a couple of things. First of all, I think that Mount Nansen was more of a foc= us on remediation. That was a different type of project. I understand that the= re were two phases within the Vangorda process. The first one was for the Ross River Dena Council to identify a partnership that they would like to work with. We were not involved with that. After that, o= nce that had been identified, there was some work for us to work with Canada and the Ross River Dena Council on the terms of the transfer. This would include things within those terms that relate to mine leases, footprint, and ensuri= ng that the Canadian commitment regarding liability was kept whole so that it wasn’t going to end up being transferred — those sorts of thing= s.
I am g= etting down into very technical pieces, and what I would will just say is that I am happy to get a fuller response for the member opposite, including how proce= sses were decided upon and what ways companies could be involved.
What I= will say is that whenever I have met with mining companies to talk to them about the= ir work, almost the first thing out of my mouth is to say, “Have you wor= ked with the local community? Have you reached out to the First Nation? Are you engaging with them?” Because that is what I believe the right approach is. It doesn’t have to be just mining when we talk about that. With a= ny type of development project, our advice to all companies is to please work = with the First Nation where that project is going to be. That’s what we th= ink is a critical first step. This is consistent with that.
It has= been a consistent approach — not only in my term, but also in my predecessor’s role — that this has been a significant focus.
Mr. Kent: I agree with the minister. Obviously, when you meet with companies to talk ab= out — involving First Nations specifically in the area and that are the m= ost affected, or communities in the area that are most affected, is an important thing to communicate to those private sector companies, but again, in this situation, only one private sector company was given a chance. As I mention= ed, some of the individuals whom I have spoken with in the industry found out a= bout this opportunity with the release of this press release that, as I mentione= d, was done halfway through an election campaign and was signed off by somebod= y in Canada who referenced that Yukon, Ross River Dena Council, and Broden Mining had agreed on the terms and framework f= or the sale of these claims.
I hope= the minister understands the frustration that we’re hearing from members = of the mining community — that they weren’t even presented with the opportunity to participate in this. As I mentioned, it is essentially a sol= e‑sourcing to Broden Mining to be the mining partner on th= is. Obviously, we welcome the partnership with Ross River Dena Council. =
When y=
ou look at
Mount Nansen and Keno, the Na‑Cho Nyäk=
Dun and Keno, and Little Salmon Carmacks — they have specific spelled=
-out
roles, but neither of them, from my understanding, were offered the opportu=
nity
to bring their preferred partner to the table, as was the case here. I will
look forward to the minister providing us with additional information when =
it
comes to the terms and the framework for the sale of these claims on the Vangorda Plateau and why this specific process was us=
ed
— where only one company was afforded the opportunity to be the priva=
te
sector partner, which, as I mentioned, is a departure from past practice wi=
th
respect to how these deals have been dealt with in the past.
I have=
just one
quick question before we move on to a different topic. The minister mention=
ed,
I think, that Broden Mining met with Ross River=
to
discuss this. Were there any meetings prior to this announcement between Broden Mining and the Government of Yukon — eit=
her
ministers or officials?
Hon. Mr. Streicker: Deputy Chair, the member opposite keeps referring ̵= 2; that this was a sole‑source and only one company was offered this opportunity. I don’t know that. There is an assumption in there, and I think that we should talk with the federal government or Ross River Dena Council, or both, to ascertain what the process involved. I just don’t want to jump to that conclusion. As I have already stated, I am happy to re= ach out to get that information on behalf of members of the House and to share = it.
The me= mber asked whether or not I had sat down with Broden ̵= 2; sorry, I have to even check on the name of the company — anyway, the = proponent. I did have one meeting with them, and I will also say that we had scheduled= a meeting to happen with Ross River Dena Council, but it was postponed, so I haven’t had that opportunity as of yet.
Mr. Kent: So, I thank the minister for that response.
The se= cond part of that question was: Did Broden Mining, or any representatives of Broden Mining, have meetings= with department officials?
Hon. Mr. Streicker: At the meeting that I had with Bro= den Mining, the deputy minister was with me. That’s what I know of, and we’re just reaching into the department to ask whether there had been= other meetings and will happily share that information as well.
I don&= #8217;t know what the Official Opposition has had in terms of conversations with Ro= ss River Dena Council. I would be interested to hear that. I hear the member opposite say that they support this project, but I also am hearing lots of concerns raised. I think it would be important for everyone to understand whether or not they are supportive.
I̵= 7;ve just heard from the department. What the department is indicating to me, Deputy Chair, is that there have been many meetings over several years with Broden Mining, but none that talked about or worked directly on the potential of the partnership between them and the Ross River Dena Council.
Mr. Kent: Deputy Chair, I understand that the minister is perhaps not happy with the line of questioning. I said that we support this project. Where we have challenges = is with the process at which these claims were disposed of by the federal government. We had challenges with the fact that there was this joint news release put out during an election period. We’ll be quite interested = to know who from the Government of Canada signed off on this during an election period. But, again, those aren’t questions for the minister specifica= lly on this.
We do = have some concerns with the process that was undertaken, which was a departure from previous processes where companies were given the opportunity to bid on something like this. The minister is correct; Mount Nansen is more a remediation-type project, but Keno, as we see and as we’ve heard from= the Premier, is an active mine site with remediation opportunities and work bei= ng conducted there as well.
In nei= ther of those cases was the First Nation responsible for bringing the private sector company to the table, so again, this is a departure and we will look forwar= d to hearing the Government of Canada’s reason for doing that. It’s a concern to us, and our job, as the Official Opposition, is to provide scrut= iny over actions of the government, and this is one that jumped off the page at= me the moment I saw this news release on August 30. This is the opportunity th= at I have to address this on the floor of the House with the Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources. We will welcome the information that comes back from t= he Government of Canada, as well as any information the minister can provide w= ith respect to the basic terms and framework for the sale that the Government of Yukon has signed on to here, according to the news release from August 30.<= /span>
Obviou= sly, we have been asking questions on this for a little bit of time now, but there = are still some outstanding answers that we’ll be looking for so that we c= an pass it on to the individuals who have raised this with us and have set off= the alarm bells as far as not having any idea that this opportunity was there f= or them to take a look at.
I do w= ant to turn to the confidence and supply agreement that the Liberals signed with t= he New Democrats to maintain their place in government here in the territory. = When all three party leaders met with the board of directors of the Yukon Chambe= r of Mines in April/May — shortly after the election — the confidenc= e and supply agreement was something that was on the agenda for us and I’m assuming for others as well. I do want to catch up with the minister on som= e of the topics from that CAS agreement. The first is the successor resource legislation. The timeline suggested would have been for the tabling of that legislation next fall.
Can th= e minister tell us if the government is on track to table the successor resource legislation — the rewrites, essentially, of the quartz and placer min= ing acts for next fall?
Hon. Mr. Streicker: <= span lang=3DEN-CA>First of all, is the work around successor legislation on trac= k? The basic answer is yes. We formed a steering committee, and that steering committee met in mid-September. I was invited along with Chief Joseph to gi= ve some opening remarks. It was super well-attended, because this is not just = the Yukon First Nations; it was also transboundary First Nations. There was a l= ot of interest and energy in the room. I think that they are meeting again this week, and I know we have the other tables up and running. I have been in conversations with folks about that work.
I thin= k that it’s important to note, as I rose to my feet and spoke about this in = the spring, that the confidence and supply agreement did talk about there being meaningful consultations with Yukon First Nations, so that was anticipated = as the agreement was created. From that first steering committee meeting ̵= 2; I just heard some concerns expressed about the need for time to do that work. That’s fine. As of right now, we are on track.
I thin= k that we are committed to developing new legislation for both the Placer Mining Act and the Yukon Quartz Mining Act but al= so for lands. We have been working in partnership with Yukon First Nation governme= nts to modernize our mining regime and our land regime in a way that provides clarity and consistency to industry, business, governments, and the public.= I think that the successor resource legislation process is a government-to-government process that includes meaningful engagement with industry stakeholders and the public.
My imp= ression of the work by the department, and our relationship with other governments as = this work evolves, is that it has been fruitful and important work. Everyone see= s it as important work. It doesn’t mean that we won’t hit challenging discussions. I think that those are coming — important, hard discussi= ons. We are looking forward to it. I will answer further questions as the member asks them.
Mr. Kent:Q= 95;I do have to take a step back to the Vangorda questi= ons for a second. The minister mentioned in one of his responses that there have been a number of meetings over the past number of years with Broden Mining not specific to the Faro project —= ; I believe that is what he told us. However, when you look at the Broden Mining website, it says that it was a purpose&= #8209;created company for the commitment of working with Ross River Dena Council to acqui= re the Vangorda Plateau lands. Were they individua= ls from Broden Mining that the minister is referri= ng to in all these years of meetings? It looks to me, according to Broden Mining’s website, that it was purpose= 209;created to deal with the acquisition of these Vangorda Plateau lands.
Hon. Mr. Streicker: <= span lang=3DEN-CA>I will take a step back further to the PricewaterhouseCoopers = report that the Yukon Minerals Advisory Board gave us as their 2019 report. They a= sked that to be their report. It was tabled on December 17, 2020.
What I= think I said — and I will check the Blues — but the note that was passe= d to me by department officials was that there have been many meetings with Broden Mining Ltd. over the past several years, but w= hat the department is indicating to me is that none of those were meetings to discuss any potential partnership with Ross River Dena Council. That is not what it was focused on. Broden Mining, as a min= ing company, has had meetings with the Mineral Resources branch — yes. = span>
Mr. Kent: I am just trying to understand this, then. So, Broden Mining Ltd., which, according to their website, was purpose‑created f= or the commitment of working with Ross River Dena Council to acquire the Vangorda Plateau lands — the minister is saying= that department officials met with Broden Mining a n= umber of times over the past number of years but didn’t talk about how they were — they met with Broden Mining, who w= as purposely put together to acquire the Vangorda Plateau lands with Ross River Dena Council, but through all of these meetin= gs with Broden Mining, they didn’t discuss w= hy the company was created — is that correct, Deputy Chair?
Hon. Mr. Streicker: Some of this is going to get a little bit involved. I w= ant to be careful that, again, I will make sure to, as I have already committed to= , get the department to develop a full written response, and we will talk with Canada, et cetera. But, as I understand it, what the department is referrin= g to is that they met with a company called Oxygen, which is a mining company.= span>
Then t= hat Oxygen formed Broden Mining Ltd., and that’s whe= re we get to the point where they are forming a partnership with Ross River Dena Council. The branch — just knowing the people involved. They were som= e of the same folks and, just wanting to be fully disclosing — that we’ve met with some of those folks. It was just indicated to me that = they had met with them.
Mr. Kent: So,
if I understand it correctly, it was, I guess, individuals, who are now
Hon. Mr. Streicker: <= span lang=3DEN-CA>I did not say whether the conversation was about Vangorda. What I said was that it was not about a partnership with Ross River Dena Council. I am now working on texts that are being sent to me by the departm= ent. I just want to be careful. I think that it would be better to give all of t= his in a fulsome response. I’ve already offered to do it. I think that’s the best way. That way, we make sure that it’s as clear = as can be for everyone involved.
Mr. Kent:Q= 95;I appreciate that. I understand. Obviously, you’re getting information on the fly = in real time. We would be curious as to the subject of those meetings, as well= as the other things that the minister committed to with respect to Canada and = how this arrangement was arrived at.
As I s= aid, the project itself is something that we support going forward, but it’s t= he process by which the proponents were chosen that has raised flags in the mi= ning community with individuals whom we have talked to.
I know= that the minister did respond to my questions about successor resource legislation, = so when we sat for that brief amount of time in late May, prior to the summer break, we did talk a little bit about these timelines for developing new pi= eces of legislation that are foundational to an industry that the minister has certainly admitted is extremely important. That was shown during the pandem= ic, but also for years and years prior to the pandemic — how important th= is is. My concern is that we are going to rush the development of this success= or resource legislation to meet these timelines that are put forward in the confidence and supply agreement that the Liberals and the NDP have and we a= re not going to get that legislation right. We are going to make mistakes or corners are going to be cut, and we will end up with legislation that doesn’t work for anyone, whether it is industry or First Nations or o= ther stakeholders involved in the mining industry here in the territory.<= /p>
Again,= we felt that it was aggressive. The 14- or 15-month period that we talked about in = May was aggressive to get it done, and we still feel that perhaps these timelin= es are not realistic to get the successor resource legislation done.
I than= k the minister and his officials for the time here this afternoon.
Deputy= Chair, seeing the time, I move that you report progress.
Deputy Chair: &n= bsp; It has been moved by the Member for Copperbelt South that the = Chair report progress.
Motion agreed to
Hon. Mr. Streicker: <= span lang=3DEN-CA>I move that the Speaker do now resume the Chair.
Deputy Chair:̳= 5;It has been moved by the Acting Government House Leader that the Speaker do now re= sume the Chair.
Motion agreed to
Speaker resumes the Chair
Speaker: I w= ill now call the House to order.
May th= e House have a report from the Deputy Chair of Committee of the Whole?
Chair’s
report
Ms. Tredger: Mr. Speaker, Committee of the Whole has considered Bill No. 202, entitled Second Appropriation Act 2021-22, = and directed me to report progress.
Speaker: You= have heard the report from the Deputy Chair of Committee of the Whole. = p>
Are yo= u agreed?
Some Hon. Members: Agreed.
Speaker: I d= eclare the report carried.
Hon. Mr. Streicker: <= span lang=3DEN-CA>I move that the House do now adjourn.
Speaker: It = has been moved by the Acting Government House Leader that the House do now adjourn. =
Motion agreed to
Speaker: Thi= s House now stands adjourned until 1:00 p.m. tomorrow.
The House adjourned at 5:27 p.m.
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