News Release

Canadian United Minerals Confirms Intent to Mine in Tombstone Territorial Park

February 7, 2000 – Whitehorse – Canadian United Minerals Inc. has confirmed its plans to go ahead with an advanced mining exploration program on its claims in Tombstone Territorial Park. The Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND) has referred this application to a public hearing.

In its application to DIAND, Canadian United failed to disclose much of the information required to evaluate the full environmental impacts of its advanced mining exploration project. For example, the company largely ignored the effects of the project on the park’s scenic beauty, wilderness character, cultural values, recreation and tourism opportunities, and the vegetation and wildlife.

“Mining exploration and mining will never be acceptable in Tombstone Territorial Park,” said Juri Peepre, chair of the Yukon Chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS-Yukon). “The Yukon and federal governments are fooling themselves if they think the Yukon public believes their doublespeak on balancing industrial development and conservation inside parks. Protected areas are for wildlife, not industry – that’s how we can begin to find a true balance,” added Peepre.

“Canadian United’s decision to withdraw all but one of its applications has not diminished at all the considerable threat of its proposed mining exploration and development program to the Tombstone Territorial Park,” says Mac Hislop of CPAWS. “All that has transpired is that we now know which of the four applications was genuine.”

“While it is disappointing that DIAND has failed to reject the application outright given its profound deficiencies, it is encouraging to see the matter referred to a public hearing. The public will now be able to have its say regarding this proposed mining project in the heart of the Yukon’s flagship park,” says Hislop.

“The Yukon Territorial Government and the Government of Canada need to address this problem promptly, directly and equitably,” added Peepre. “The present policy of delay and avoidance sets a very poor precedent and will only increase the future burden on taxpayers. Endless technical reviews will do nothing to fix the problem – we need political leadership.”

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