Yukon NDP pushes for united front against Bill S-6

It may be wishful thinking, but the Yukon NDP wants Premier Darrell Pasloski to join her and Liberal leader Sandy Silver in Ottawa to oppose Bill S-6,the federal legislation that would amend the Yukon's Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Act.

"We have an opportunity and a responsibility to Yukon citizens to stand behind our commitments made through the umbrella final agreement, and together with First Nation governments, oppose these unilateral changes to YESAA, Opposition Leader Liz Hanson said yesterday in the legislature.

Silver has indicated he's willing to go.

Hanson extended the invitation to the Premier yesterday in the legislature.

"Will the Premier stand with Yukon citizens and Yukon First Nation governments and oppose Bill S-6, or will he continue to blindly follow the Harper Conservative marching orders?"

Hanson says if Pasloski goes too, it would send a much-needed message of unity standing beside the Councilof Yukon First Nations, which also opposed the bill.

But Pasloski repeated his standard response when it comes to the issue.

"We believe these amendments are good for Yukon. They're good for Yukon families, they will create jobs for Yukoners, all Yukoners and that is a priority for us."

Bill S-6, the Yukon and Nunavut Regulatory Improvement Act, got first reading in the Senate on June 3.

One proposed change says the minister of Aboriginal Affairs would have the power to set binding policy for the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board. 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 Yukon government the power to decide if changes to ongoing projects need to be assessed.

Pasloski says he supports the amendments because they will make Yukon's regulatory climate consistent with the provinces.

Pasloski added if there is conflict between YESAA and the final agreements, the final agreements will prevail.

The Yukon Conservation Society has said Ottawa failed in its duty to Yukoners in the way it drafted the bill.

The Coalitionof Yukon First Nations has threatened court action if Bill S-6 passes.