News Release
Independent Report Gives New Yukon Parks Act Failing Grade
May 15, 2002 – Whitehorse – A new report from the University of Victoria gives the Yukon, and its new Yukon Parks and Land Certainty Act, an “F.” The report found that the Yukon Liberals’ new parks legislation fails to meet modern standards.
The report, Wild by Law: A Report Card on Laws Governing Canada's Parks and Protected Areas, and a Blueprint for Making these Laws more Effective, found that the Yukon Parks and Land Certainty Act does not consider ecological integrity the top priority; fails to prohibit industrial development in protected areas; and, only partially recognizes First Nations rights. While the report credits the Yukon for requiring public participation in park planning, it notes that the extent of that participation is discretionary.
“The Yukon is now near the bottom of the conservation heap,” says Mac Hislop, Campaign Coordinator for the Yukon Chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS-Yukon). “Not long ago we were considered a leader with our forward thinking original Yukon Protected Areas Strategy (YPAS).”
University of Victoria professor and environmental lawyer David R. Boyd measured provincial, territorial and national parks legislation against ten legal criteria. Professor Boyd concluded that existing laws need dramatic improvement to protect our natural legacy from being irreparably tarnished. His report confirms that most governments across the country urgently need to strengthen their Parks legislation, and provides a blueprint to do this.
“Yukoners want protected areas to protect the territory’s important wildlands,” says Hislop. “The government needs to set a new timeline for moving ahead with a protected areas network that safeguards the Yukon’s wildlife, wildlands and natural heritage.” CPAWS-Yukon recommends that the government amend Yukon parks legislation to conform with the best legislative examples applicable to the Yukon.
For more information, contact:
Mac Hislop
Campaign Coordinator
CPAWS Yukon Chapter
Telephone: (867) 393-8080 ext. 3
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