The Peel watershed, a wilderness the size of Nova Scotia, became the subject of an epic court battle in Yukon this summer. (CBC)
The fight over the Peel watershed land use plan could be settled with more talks.
That’s the proposal Yukon First Nations and environmental groups have submitted to the Yukon Supreme Court.
The First Nations and their environmental allies are fighting a government plan they say protects just 30 per cent of the region from development. They back a plan protecting 80 per cent of the Peel.
After hearing the main arguments from both sides in July, Judge Ron Veale asked each to propose a compromise.
In court documents submitted to the judge last week, the First Nations say everything about the 10 year public process was legal, right up until the time the Yukon Government introduced its own land use plan. They say that move ignored the approval process and denied First Nations the right to final consultation.
But they suggest “proper consultation” could break the stalemate.
The Yukon Government will file its compromise arguments next week.
Both sides will make their case in court on October 24.
