Yukon Premier Darrell Pasloski defends amendments to Bill S-6

In an interview with Sandi Coleman on the Yukon morning show A New Day, Premier Darrell Pasloski says there was full disclosure to First Nations of his government's proposed amendments to Bill S-6, even though First Nations have said thats not true.

Pasloski says documentation will show that his government disclosed all suggested amendments in 2012 and 2014 with First Nations at the time they were submitted to the federal government.

I cant comment on whether or not it got from the officials level up to the elected officials level or not, but I can share that we did share that information with them in the spirit of full disclosure.

On mobile? Listen to Darrell Pasloski on A New Day here

Pasloski says his government only proposed two out of the four amendments, but in the end, it doesnt make much difference because it was a federal government process.

He maintains that his governments goal is to have similar rules as in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories in order to create "certainty" for the mining industry and economic opportunity for Yukoners.

Meetings with municipalities

Pasloskiwas also asked to explainwhy hes been meeting with municipalities to discuss Bill S-6, after Coleman played a comment from Dave Weir, a councillor in Haines Junction who writes a personal blog about municipal issues in the village.

Weir said he was concerned, after a phone meetingwith Pasloski, that the conversation would be construed as a consultation, when in fact, he didnt feel anybody had been consulted.

I heard Pasloskis opinions, I asked a few questions, I dont believe anybody on council expressed any opinions.

Pasloski said municipalities are also affected by Bill S-6 and need to know what the amendments are.

Pasloski was also asked to respond to Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourts statement that, according to the Umbrella Final Agreement from 1993, Yukon First Nations are not governments.

I havent heard what the comments are so I wont comment on that, Pasloski said, but the Yukon Government has in the past and will continue to recognize first Nations as governments.