Yukon MP Ryan Leef defends aboriginal affairs minister

Yukon MP Ryan Leef is defending comments made by aboriginal affairs minister Bernard Valcourt ​that Yukon First Nations are not considered governments, under the terms of the Umbrella Final Agreement.

Valcourt made the remark on Tuesday, during discussion in the aboriginal affairs house committee and a coalition of First Nations chiefs said Valcourt told them the same thing during an earlier meeting. The chiefs have said they're insulted.

Leef told CBC News that Valcourt was simply sticking to the definition of government as outlined in the Umbrella Final Agreement. 

"The minister wasn't trying to insult anybody by saying that," said Leef.

"What he was doing was saying 'Here's the definition in the UFA, and I need to rely on this definition.' And it's not an inappropriate assessment, it's a legislated definition that he was following."

Leef says he won't pull his support for Bill S-6.

The controversial federal legislation would amend Yukon's Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment Act. First Nations are deeply opposed to four of the amendments, saying it would undermine the spirit and intent of the Umbrella Final Agreement.

Leef says he hopes disagreements over the bill can be worked out in committee.

Leef also challenged assertions from Yukon First Nations that there hasn't been adequate consultation on the four amendments requested by Yukon Premier Darrell Pasloski. He says there was consultation.

"We've heard from the grand chief [Ruth Massie] an absolute term, which was that there was no consultation on those four points, and that is factually incorrect," Leef said.

"There was consultation over a one-year period. Yukon First Nations were provided $100,000 for consultation, which was receipted and billed back to the Canadian taxpayer."

Leef added that responsibility for improving relations between the federal, territorial and First Nations governments falls to all three parties.