Controversial bill to amend YESAA passes 2nd reading

Controversial legislation to amend the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Act passed a second reading in parliament on Wednesday.

During the debate on Bill S-6, the NDPs and Liberals hammered the Conservative government.

"There is a great deal of concern and a sense of frustration that the government is just not listening," said Liberal MP Kevin Lamoreux, who highlighted the lack of public consultation in the changes proposed. 

However, Mark Strahl, parliamentary secretary for the department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, said that isn't the case, and that the bill was "developed in consultation with Yukoners, with First Nations."

Amendments set new timelines, give more power to government

The Yukon Environmental Socio-economic Assessment Act was one of the pieces of legislation that was born out of the land claims process.

Yukon First Nations oppose Bill S-6, saying amendments to the Act will undermine the Umbrella Final Agreement.

One proposed change of YESAA says the minister of Aboriginal Affairs would have the power to set binding policy for the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board, which assesses projects for environmental, social and economic impacts and then makes recommendations to relevant governments. 

Other changes include setting new timelines for conducting environmental reviews and giving the government the power to charge project developers the cost of reviewing projects.

The bill would also give the territorial government the power to decide if changes to ongoing projects need to be assessed.

Conservatives motion to limit debate

When Conservative representatives introduced a motion to limit final debate on the bill, it prompted an angry response from Niki Ashton, the NDP's aboriginal affairs critic.  

"Mr Speaker," she said, "it is a disgrace that this government is not only shutting out debates but seeking to silence the voice of (Council of Yukon First Nations) Grand Chief Massie and the First Nations who are standing up for their rights. 

"We will stand here in solidarity with them sharing their voices and their words and we will fight back on this terrible piece of legislation." 

Ashton later pointed out that industry is also critical of S-6 and said First Nations may have no choice but to sue.

"It is unlawful for the federal government to impose regulations upon a body such as the YESAB... without the consent of the Yukon's First Nations," she said. 

Yukon Conservative MP Ryan Leef was in Washington to discuss the Arctic Council on Wednesday rather than in Ottawa. Leef had asked for the standing committee on Aboriginal Affairs to come to the territory to hear the concerns of Yukon residents. 

The House voted unanimously yesterday for the committee to travel to Whitehorse within this sitting.