Yukon chiefs to meet Bernard Valcourt on Bill S-6

Three Yukon chiefs will travel to Ottawa on Sunday to meet with Aboriginal Affairs minister Bernard Valcourt about their opposition to Bill S-6.

Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation chief Eric Fairclough, Kwanlin Dun chief Doris Bill, and Council of Yukon First Nations grand chief Ruth Massie are going to lobby against the bill.

Valcourt agreed to the meeting after a phone call from Yukon Premier Darrell Pasloski.

Yukon chiefs have been vocal and passionate in their opposition to Bill S-6, which will amend Yukon's Socio-Economic and Environmental Assessment Act. They say if the changes are passed, it will lead to legal action down the road.

Debate on Bill S-6 begins in the House of Commons on Monday. Yukon NDP leader Liz Hanson will also be in Ottawa. She'll watch the debate Monday at Parliament from the public gallery.

Meanwhile, Yukon MP Ryan Leef has asked the Standing Committee for Aboriginal Affairs to come to the Yukon. Leef says that would allow Yukoners to offer thoughts on the bill directly to the committee.