News Release

CPAWS Calls Suspension of Yukon Protected Area Strategy “Huge Embarrassment”

January 28, 2003 – Whitehorse – After only three months in power, the Yukon Party government has broken an election promise to complete a network of protected areas, says the Yukon Chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. The Party’s recent election platform included a commitment to a long-standing federal, provincial and territorial agreement dating from 1992 to protect and conserve examples of all of the territory’s natural regions.

“This regressive decision is a huge embarrassment to the Yukon – we are now the only jurisdiction in Canada to cancel work on protected areas,” said Juri Peepre, Executive Director of the Yukon Chapter, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.

“By reneging on their election promise to honour Yukon’s conservation commitments, the Yukon government has introduced a new era of prolonged uncertainty for both resource and wilderness tourism industries. Suspending work on protected areas will escalate land use conflicts throughout the territory and will make investment in development projects a risky business,” added Peepre.

CPAWS-Yukon says that independent research throughout North America demonstrates protected areas are a foundation to the growth, diversity and stability of economies, as well as supporting the long-term well-being of communities.

“Premier Fentie is mistaken if he believes this knee-jerk move back to the 1950s will help the Yukon economy. Stopping work on conservation and environmental protection will not stimulate anything other than pitting Yukoners against each other,” Peepre noted.

For more information, please contact:

Juri Peepre
CPAWS Yukon Chapter
Telephone: (867) 393-8080
E-mail: cpaws@cpawsyukon.org