The Government of Yukon has withdrawn from mineral staking certain lands with high conservation value in the Dawson planning region.
These withdrawals are temporary and may be changed after a full draft plan is submitted by the Dawson Regional Land Use Planning Commission, after which time the whole picture of the Dawson planning region can be reviewed.
These lands were identified by the Dawson Regional Land Use Planning Commission and the interim withdrawals will help protect wildlife, wetlands and other key areas within the planning region during the planning process.
We are committed to honouring Chapter 11 of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Final Agreement and moving forward on the planning process. To meet our commitment to uphold the integrity of the planning process and to help minimize potential future land use conflicts we have decided to withdraw from mineral staking specific areas identified by the Land Use Planning Commission at this point in their planning process.
Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources Ranj Pillai
We are pleased to see the progress of the Dawson Regional Land Use Planning Commission and agree that we should move forward with interim withdrawals at this time. This is an important and significant step forward in advancing the planning process. This will minimize future land use conflicts in areas that are likely candidates for conservation.
Minister of Environment Pauline Frost
The Government of Yukon and Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in formed the Dawson Regional Land Use Planning Commission in December 2018 to achieve the objectives of Chapter 11 of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Final Agreement.
The amount of land withdrawn encompasses approximately 12 per cent of the planning region. Together with the area withdrawn for Tombstone Territorial Park, a total 17 per cent of the planning area is withdrawn from staking.
The draft Dawson Regional Land Use Plan is expected to be completed by the independent commission in the coming months.
The Dawson Regional Land Use Plan will not require removal of existing mining claims. Proposed projects on existing claims must meet all the required regulatory requirements.
Renée Francoeur
Cabinet Communications
867-334-9194
renee.francoeur@yukon.ca
Jesse Devost
Communications, Energy, Mines and Resources
867-667-5307
jesse.devost@yukon.ca