WHITEHORSE - Mount Lorne-Southern Lakes candidate John Streicker represented the Yukon Liberal Party's strong environmental policy last night at the forum hosted by CPAWS and the Yukon Conservation Society.

Streicker emphasized the importance of long term planning in a truly collaborative fashion, involving all levels of government, where the goal is true sustainability.

Sandy Silver today issued the following statement on the draft hydraulic fracturing documents:

“The content that was found in the draft documents confirms the Yukon Party is planning to completely disregard the work done by the select committee over the last year and a half. Committee members heard overwhelmingly from Yukoners that the social licence for hydraulic fracturing is not there. The government is taking great creative licence with its reading of the report suggesting the committee is implying support because the recommendations do not ban fracking.

Sandy Silver today issued the following statement on the Select Committee Report on Fracking:

“At this time there are too many unknowns to support fracking in the Yukon.  While the techniques used in extracting shale gas are understood, more research is needed to explore the environmental, health and water impacts that will result from this process. 

Mr. Silver: I sent an open letter to the Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources this week regarding the establishment of a select committee to examine the issue of fracking. One of the issues I raised was how the creation of the committee will affect any private sector applicant that comes forward looking for permission to frack in Yukon. It is my view that the creation of the committee places a de facto moratorium on the practice of fracking in the territory. It would be inexcusable for the government to permit the activity until the committee has completed its work and Yukoners have been heard from; otherwise the work from the committee is irrelevant.

The company that owns the Kotaneelee gas well in southeast Yukon, in a presentation to stakeholders, said it plans to drill, complete and frack shale gas in 2013-14. The overlap of the work of the committee is obvious.

What is the government’s position on this question? Will it permit fracking before the committee has concluded its work and recommendations have been implemented?

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.