Open Letter to Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, Devon Canada Corporation, Hunt Oil Company of Canada, Inc. and Chevron Canada Resources

The Hon. Archie Lang, Yukon Minister of Energy, Mines & Resources, recently announced his decision to proceed with the 2004 Call for Oil and Gas Nominations in the North Yukon, Ostensibly acting in the interest of the oil and gas industry, Minister Lang may have put you and your industry in a difficult position.

Acknowledging that Yukon First Nations want to finish land use planning before opening up areas to development, Minister Lang nevertheless stated in a media interview that: "We are in the oil and gas business in the Yukon. We are the territorial government. We have to make tough decisions. We are moving ahead with the land use planning and we in conjunction with that, we are moving ahead with oil and gas in north Yukon. Industry expects it."

Putting aside the Minister's clumsy rhetoric and arm-waving, there are two major concerns for the oil and gas industry. One, according to the Minister, First Nations governments wish to do land use planning before additional oil and gas development in the North Yukon. Minister Lang has ignored their wishes and issued a Call for Nominations anyway. Two, Minister Lang's justified doing so by implicating the oil and gas industry.

In various presentations in the Yukon, the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) has publicly supported land use planning and protected areas planning in advance of industrial development. Likewise, Devon, Hunt and Chevron company representatives have stated support for land use planning and protected areas planning in advance of development. The positions of the oil and gas industry and of northern First Nations governments seem similar.

CAPP, Devon, Hunt and Chevron have stated your respect for the views of First Nations governments, Renewable Resources Councils, communities and the public in your desire to be responsible northern developers. You have also indicated that you only want to work in areas where oil and gas development is acceptable to communities. The Yukon Government apparently does not share your views on these matters, nor your respect for its constituents.

I have some questions.

Is Minister Lang acting in your interest when he states he is prepared to disregard the views of First Nations governments and proceed with oil and gas dispositions against their wishes? Have your organizations demanded from Minister Lang access to potential oil and gas lands in the North Yukon in 2004?

Can you participate in the proposed 2004 Call for Nominations and still legitimately maintain your support for the principles of (a) respect for the wishes of First Nations and northern communities and of (b) land use planning in advance of development?

CAPP, Devon, Hunt and Chevron, are you prepared to defy what media reports indicate is the will of First Nations governments in the North Yukon and abandon your commitments to due process by nominating lands for oil and gas development in the Yukon Government's 2004 Call for Nominations?

Thank you in advance for clarification on these important matters.

Sincerely,

Mac Hislop
CPAWS-Yukon