The Government of Yukon has released a What We Heard report following engagement on the proposed modernized regulation for resource roads. This report highlights feedback on resource roads regulation from Yukon First Nations, Indigenous transboundary groups, industry, the public and other stakeholders. This feedback will inform the new regulations being developed to ensure resource roads are managed in a sustainable manner reflective of Yukoners’ values.
Yukoners who participated in the public engagement opportunity told the Government of Yukon the following.
- They view the roads leading into the hinterland as a valuable public asset for Yukoners.
- They were mostly opposed to existing roads being automatically re-designated as resource roads.
- They believe current permitting and access control are inadequate, favouring managed access that supports environmental and heritage integrity.
- They believe enforcement would be a good tool for monitoring environmental integrity and infractions on resource roads, emphasizing the need for the Government of Yukon to have the capacity to effectively enforce these rules.
- They were mostly supportive of regulating resource roads and supported financial security requirements for resource roads.
- Industry-affiliated respondents acknowledged the benefits of access controls but expressed concerns about the associated costs and liability implications.
The report focuses on key areas to address access, enforcement, financial security requirements and industry costs and liability.
The Government of Yukon is reviewing the feedback from the report with Yukon First Nations, transboundary Indigenous governments and stakeholders, and considering amendments to the draft regulation.
The Government of Yukon expects to finalize the resource road regulation within the year and plans to review the regulation during the successor lands legislation process to ensure they are aligned.
Thank you to all the Yukoners who shared their valuable feedback on the future management and regulation of resource roads in the territory. Throughout this process, we’re committed to working in collaboration with Yukon First Nations, transboundary Indigenous governments and stakeholders. I look forward to seeing the regulations develop to reflect Yukoners' values and sustainably manage resource roads.
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In spring 2023, the Government of Yukon completed public engagement and consultation on draft resource roads regulation.
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The Government of Yukon asked First Nations, stakeholders and members of the public for their views on access management, enforcement, financial security requirements, and industry costs and liability which is included in the report.
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First Nations, stakeholders and members of the public provided a diversity of views on how resource road regulations could most effectively guide construction, use, maintenance and closure of new resource roads.
- A resource road is used to access minerals, mines, oil and gas, pits and quarries and renewable energy sources. These are not public roads.
- Forest resource roads will not be affected by this resource road regulation. Forest resource roads are managed under the Forest Resources Act and Regulations.
- The resource road regulation will guide the construction, use, maintenance and closure of new resource roads.
- The Government of Yukon has been on a path to establishing a comprehensive resource roads regime under the Territorial Lands (Yukon) Act since the initial publication of the Resource Access Roads Framework in 2013.
- Public engagement and consultation took place in 2014, 2018 and 2023. The input received in 2014 and 2018 helped guide the writing of the draft resource roads regulation.
- The drafting of a final Resource Roads Regulation was delayed in 2021 due to the identification and development of amendments required to the Territorial Lands (Yukon) Act. These amendments were implemented during the fall 2021 sitting of the Legislative Assembly.
Laura Seeley
Cabinet Communications
867-332-7627
laura.seeley@yukon.ca
Kate Erwin
Energy, Mines and Resources Communications
867-667-3183
kate.erwin@yukon.ca