Whitehorse will ask territory to extend mineral staking ban
'I do find inconsistency with allowing anymore quartz staking until we have this planning process'
The City of Whitehorse is asking the Yukon government to extend a moratorium on mineral staking within city limits.
The current ban, in place since 2012, expires in July.
Whitehorse administration said the purpose of the ban is to give the city time to gather public feedback while it updates the Official Community Plan (OCP).
Whitehorse city council voted in favour of extending the moratorium on Tuesday evening. Councillor Samson Hartland, president of the Yukon Chamber of Mines, declared a conflict of interest and removed himself from the discussion and vote.
Mines 'helped build this town'
Councillor Rob Fendrick said he has some misgivings about asking for an extension to the ban, considering Whitehorse's mining history, but he supported the request.
"I do find inconsistency with allowing anymore quartz staking until we have this planning process and understanding what it is the citizens want in our area."
The Yukon Chamber of Mines disputes the idea that mining can't co-exist with other industries inside urban areas.
"Given the history with the Whitehorse copper belt and the mines that have produced here in the past, the mines that actually helped build this town — having that land not available for staking and mineral exploration is not a good thing," said Mike Burke, executive director.
He said mining happens within municipal boundaries in other jurisdictions.
"There's many municipalities in Canada that have mining within their city limits. Of course it's not always an ideal situation but it can be done with proper planning."
The initial ban on staking in city limits followed city-wide consultations related to the 2010 OCP. Yukon's Mineral Resources Branch and Yukon Geological Survey, together with the city, devised the boundaries.
One of the stated reasons for the moratorium was to protect recreation areas.