Most survey respondents are game for allowing more mineral exploration in Whitehorse.
The feedback relates to Gladiator Metals’ effort to amend the city’s top land use policy. If successful, certain areas along the copper belt would be rezoned, allowing an expanded drilling program in parcels of land designated as greenspace.
Public engagement on the company’s petition is a big part of the process. In August, the city hosted a hearing. Nearly 1,000 individuals and organizations also wrote to staff. This is all in an effort to gauge public sentiment on an issue that has been, at times, contentious.
Still, the issue appears to go far beyond any single project. To many, it seems this is more a reckoning with the city’s relationship with mining, how it will court the industry into the future.
Meanwhile, the city continues work on its proposed mineral framework, which pitches a tiered system that would place checks and balances on mining activities. That includes setting time limits, remediation standards and inspections.
Dylan Harris, a senior city planner, said during a council meeting Monday night public feedback is as vast as it is complex.
“The volume of public input received regarding this application is amongst the highest in recent memory,” he said.
The report based on that input states 64 per cent of respondents support the proposed amendment. Some argue the project would be an economic boon and provide 22 direct jobs. Others say the proposed project is small-scale and temporary, with minimal impacts to the environment.
“Mining and exploration have been and continue to be the largest sector in the Yukon outside of Government,” writes Stuart Murray.
“Without exploration, there is no future.”
The affected First Nations — Kwanlin Dün and Ta’an Kwäch’än Council — have both come out in favour of the company’s plan.
In a letter from Kwanlin Dün, Chief Sean Smith states mineral exploration in the First Nation’s traditional territory is “important.”
“It helps improve of our understanding of the land and its mineral potential, supporting informed decisions about the future of our Traditional Territory while creating opportunities for our citizens and the Yukon economy,” the letter states.
Not everyone’s view is so rosy.
The report states about a third of respondents are either opposed or have outstanding concerns.
They include environmental impacts that will far outweigh whatever profits are made. Some couch this argument in the long shadow cast by mine failures — like the one that happened roughly two years ago at Victoria Gold’s Eagle Gold mine. Compounding the problem, they say, are ghastly low royalties. Other concerns include disruptions to wildlife habitat, cumulative impacts on nearby ecosystems like those in Chasàn Chùa Territorial Park and tainted drinking water.
Some worry a company will one day open a full fledged mine, which would only accelerate impacts. That includes Misa Svoboda, who also wrote to the city.
“As the mayor continues to create elementary school-level excuses about why this is a good idea, it makes me so infuriated that, at 20 years old, I have to speak up,” she writes.
“You want to scare away the loyal people and residents of Whitehorse so you can have a mine within city limits, polluting the environment just for it to eventually close operations, and then spend all your money and the territorial government’s money to clean it up for 100+ years.”
Quality of data centre of focus among councillors, staff
All that input. But where do those writers live anyway?
That was a central question among councillors at the meeting.
First raised by Coun. Paolo Gallina, he said it’s crucial to understand whether participants are Whitehorse residents. Or not.
“I would like to know that information,” he said.
Coun. Dan Boyd suggested opening this up mid-way through an already complex process is a bad idea.
“We’re always doing a ton of surveys, and often it becomes quite evident that a lot of the survey respondents weren’t even in Canada, so they have been able to influence it, somewhat,” he said.
“The difficulty that we face, though, is trying to draw a line and how we weigh that.”
Mélodie Simard, acting director of development services, said under the Municipal Act, all submissions are accepted.
“Some folks may have interest in land within Whitehorse, but not be a resident,” she said. “For example, someone who’s a landlord.”