Mr. Silver: As far back as 2007, the Yukon Liberal Party has been advocating for the government to adapt an independent power producer policy, or an IPP. An IPP policy would enable businesses to generate their own electricity. This is something a number of mining companies are interested in doing. They see it as a way to power their own projects. The holdup is the Yukon government, which has been talking about putting a policy in place to allow this for over four years now and there still is no policy. The minister has told this House that work on the policy is ongoing. The government’s website says, “We expect to return to the public for review of the IPP draft policy in the coming months.” This is something industry and the Liberal caucus have been promoting for a number of years.

When will we see a policy in place?

Mr. Brad Cathers

Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources

Government House Leader

Dear Mr. Cathers,

I am writing to accept your invitation to participate in the Select Committee Regarding the Risks and Benefits of Hydraulic Fracturing.

Mr. Silver: Last fall, the Government of Yukon passed legislation to try to strip the Kaska of its veto over oil and gas development in its traditional territory. The Government of Yukon also signed an MOU with the Kaska in 1997 that spoke to the issue of consent and vetoes. The minister has thus far been completely silent on the ongoing enforceability of section 5.1 of the MOA, even with section 13 of the Oil and Gas Act having been repealed. I’m looking for a clear answer as to the government’s position at this point.

Will the minister confirm that the consent requirement for the issuance of new oil and gas dispositions in Kaska traditional territory, which the parties agreed to in good faith and confirmed in paragraph 5.1 of the January 1997 MOA, will continue to be honoured by the Government of Yukon? It’s a simple yes-or-no question.

Mr. Silver: I have a question for the Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources. There has been a great deal of discussion about the situation we find ourselves in with respect to a looming power supply shortage in the Yukon. We are fast approaching a power-supply cliff. Even the minister will acknowledge that. A decision by a major mine to go into production would likely push Yukon Energy beyond its current generating capacity, leaving us no choice but to burn diesel to meet the increased demand. Currently the Public Utilities Act obligates the government to allow these large industrial customers to be hooked up to the grid. It doesn’t have to be that way. To get around this obligation to serve, the government could simply amend the Public Utilities Act.

Has the government considered this idea and, if not, why not?

Mr. Silver: Mr. Speaker, February 25 was the deadline for submissions on the revised Peel Watershed Regional Land Use Plan. Yesterday the government released information on how many people had participated in the public consultation process. Unfortunately, it kept the most important information to itself — what people think of the new plan. Were they for it, or were they against it? What did people think of the old plan? Were they for it, or were they against it?

Of course, the minister has this information and has chosen not to release it. According to the government — and I quote: “All feedback received during the consultation will be posted” on the www.peelconsultation.ca website.

Will the minister be open and accountable and release this information that people want to hear about? What plan did the public support?

Whitehorse:  If the Premier is serious about improving his relationship with Yukon First Nations perhaps he should look at today’s announcement from Golden Predator and the Kaska Nation, says Klondike MLA Sandy Silver.  The two parties signed an exploration agreement today with respect to activities within the traditional territory of the Kaska Nation.

Whitehorse:  Klondike MLA Sandy Silver used the week leading up to the 2012 Yukon Geoscience Forum to highlight several concerns the mining industry has raised with the Government of Yukon.  The Yukon Mineral Advisory Board (YMAB) provides the government with a list of priorities each year. 

Whitehorse:  The new Peel Land Use Plan opens the majority of the area to development, says Interim Liberal Leader Sandy Silver.

Whitehorse:  The Government of Yukon should publicly outline its response to the release of a ‘REASONS FOR DECISION’ document from the Water Board, says Klondike MLA Sandy Silver.  The document, concerning the Minto mine, states ‘Based on the findings of the Board that the Licensee has violated the existing water use license….”

Whitehorse:  The Government of Yukon should broaden its horizons when it comes to sources of capital for the Yukon mining industry instead of solely relying on Chinese investment, says Klondike MLA Sandy Silver.