Participating in the Peel Watershed land-use planning process is a vital opportunity to help shape the future of this iconic Yukon region. This consultation represents a critical juncture in determining how we balance protection, recreation, and responsible development across the vast and pristine Peel River Watershed. Your informed input directly contributes to a final plan that reflects a broad range of values and priorities for generations to come.
Understanding the Peel Watershed Consultation Process
This section explains the multi-phase consultation led by the Yukon Government, detailing the collaborative process with First Nations and key stakeholders like the Yukon Chamber of Mines. The creation of a regional land-use plan is a formal, structured process designed to incorporate diverse perspectives and legal obligations, ensuring the final outcome is both robust and widely supported.
The Role of the Yukon Government and Partners
We, the Yukon Government, are leading this consultation in close partnership with First Nations governments, whose traditional territories encompass the Peel Watershed. This collaboration is foundational to the process. Furthermore, we are actively engaging key stakeholder organizations to ensure specialized knowledge informs the draft plan. For instance, the Yukon Chamber of Mines provides critical perspective on mineral resource potential and responsible development, while the Yukon Fish & Game Association offers expertise on wildlife populations, habitat corridors, and sustainable recreation. This tripartite engagement framework ensures the consultation considers environmental, economic, and cultural interests.
From Vision to Plan: The Consultation Phases
The journey to a final plan follows a clear, multi-stage path. It began with establishing a shared vision and identifying key values across the region. That foundational work has led to the current phase: consulting on a detailed draft land-use plan. This draft outlines specific zoning designations (e.g., protected areas, managed resource areas), land-use rules, and implementation strategies. Your participation now focuses on this concrete document. Following this public consultation, all feedback will be analyzed, and the plan will be revised accordingly before proceeding towards final approval and implementation under relevant frameworks, including the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.
Key Consultation Events and How to Attend
Lists specific in-person and virtual event dates for 2023-2024 in Whitehorse, Mayo, and other communities, plus registration details via peelconsultation.ca. We have designed a series of events to facilitate accessible participation from across the territory and beyond. Attending an event allows you to view detailed maps, speak directly with planning officials, and hear the perspectives of other community members.
Whitehorse Open House Schedule
Our central in-person events will be held in Whitehorse, Yukon, at the Yukon Convention Centre. These open-house format sessions allow drop-in attendance at your convenience.
- Session 1: November 15, 2023, 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Session 2: January 18, 2024, 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Session 3: February 29, 2024, 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Final open house)
No registration is required for these open houses. Simply come, explore the materials, and share your thoughts with our team.
Community Sessions in the Peel Region
To ensure voices from the region are heard, we are hosting focused sessions in communities close to the watershed. These require pre-registration due to venue size. Please visit peelconsultation.ca to register.
| Community | Date | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayo, YT | November 28, 2023 | 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM | Na-Cho Nyäk Dun Community Hall |
| Dawson City, YT | November 30, 2023 | 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM | Robert Service School |
| Fort McPherson, NT | December 5, 2023 | 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM | Teetł’it Gwich’in Council Chamber |
Virtual Forum Access
For those unable to attend in person, we are hosting two live virtual forum sessions via Zoom. These sessions will include a presentation from the planning team followed by a moderated Q&A. Registration is mandatory to receive the login link.
- Virtual Forum 1: December 12, 2023, 7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST
- Virtual Forum 2: January 24, 2024, 6:00 PM EST / 3:00 PM PST
Register for these virtual events through the dedicated portal on our website, peelconsultation.ca.
Preparing for Your Consultation Participation
Offers attendees practical advice on reviewing the draft plan documents, formulating questions, and understanding submission protocols. An informed participant provides the most valuable feedback. We recommend dedicating time beforehand to familiarize yourself with the core materials and clarify your own priorities.
Review the Draft Plan Materials
All foundational documents are available for download on our website. Key materials include the full Draft Peel Watershed Regional Land Use Plan, a high-level summary brochure, and interactive online maps showing proposed zoning. We suggest starting with the summary to grasp the overarching goals, then delving into the specific chapters relevant to your interests, whether that’s mineral staking, tourism, conservation, or traditional use.
Formulating Your Questions and Feedback
Effective feedback is specific and constructive. As you review, note sections where you agree, disagree, or need clarification. Consider questions like: How might a proposed zoning change affect a specific activity or value? Does the plan adequately address connectivity for wildlife corridors? Are the management directives for specific zones clear and enforceable? Bringing these prepared notes to an event or using them to draft a submission will make your participation more impactful.
Making an Effective Submission
Guides users through the online submission portal on our website, outlining acceptable formats and the importance of specificity in feedback for topics like mineral staking or wildlife corridors. Written submissions are a formal and crucial part of the consultation record. Whether you attend an event or not, we strongly encourage providing a written submission.
Using the Online Submission Portal
The most efficient way to submit your feedback is through our secure online portal at peelconsultation.ca. The portal guides you through a simple process where you can either type your comments directly into a text box or upload supporting documents. We accept submissions in PDF, Word document, or plain text formats. You will receive an automatic confirmation email upon successful submission. The portal will remain open for submissions until March 15, 2024.
Tips for Constructive Feedback
To ensure your feedback is actionable, please be as precise as possible. Reference the specific page number, map unit, or policy clause from the draft plan you are commenting on. Explain the reason for your support, concern, or suggested alternative. For example, instead of saying “protect more land,” you might say, “I support the proposed protection in Zone S-12 because it contains critical caribou calving grounds as identified in the wildlife assessment.” This level of detail is invaluable for the planning team during the revision phase.
Accommodation and Travel for Yukon Events
Provides practical travel information for attending events in Yukon communities, including recommended lodging in Whitehorse and seasonal travel considerations. Traveling within the Yukon, especially in winter, requires careful planning. Here is essential information to help you prepare for your trip.
Getting to Whitehorse and Regional Hubs
Whitehorse is accessible via daily flights from Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton through Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport (YXY). Travel to communities like Mayo and Dawson City typically involves connecting flights from Whitehorse via local airlines. Road travel is possible via the Alaska Highway to Whitehorse, and the Klondike Highway to Dawson City, but winter conditions can be severe. We recommend checking 511 Yukon for current road conditions and allowing extra travel time.
Local Accommodations and Services
For events in Whitehorse, a range of accommodations is available, from downtown hotels like the Coast High Country Inn and Best Western Gold Rush Inn to B&Bs and rental suites. We advise booking well in advance, especially during peak winter tourism periods. In regional communities, lodging options are more limited; contacting the local hotel or B&B directly (such as the Bombay Peggy’s in Dawson City or the Mayo Hotel in Mayo) as soon as you register is essential.
Engage Through Online Forums and Updates
Details how to participate in ongoing digital discussions and stay informed through the Yukon Government’s official channels and partner updates from organizations like the Fish & Game Association. The conversation extends beyond formal events. We facilitate ongoing dialogue and provide regular updates to keep everyone informed throughout the consultation period.
Navigating the Discussion Forums
Our website hosts moderated discussion forums organized by theme (e.g., Conservation, Economic Development, Implementation). These forums allow for deeper conversation on specific topics. You can post questions, respond to others, and share resources. The forums are monitored by our team to ensure respectful and constructive dialogue and to pull common themes into the official consultation record.
Staying Informed with Official Updates
The primary source for official updates is the News section of peelconsultation.ca. We also disseminate key updates through the Yukon Government’s official news channel. Additionally, many partner organizations, such as the Yukon Fish & Game Association and the Yukon Chamber of Mines, often share consultation-related information with their members through their own newsletters and websites. Subscribing to these channels can provide valuable stakeholder-specific context.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the deadline for providing my feedback on the draft plan?
The final deadline for all written submissions, whether through the online portal, email, or mail, is March 15, 2024. We encourage you to submit well before this date to ensure your feedback is fully considered.
I can’t attend an event or write a detailed submission. How else can I participate?
You can still make your voice heard by participating in our online discussion forums or by completing a shorter feedback form available on our website. While detailed submissions are preferred, any form of participation that shares your perspective is valuable to the process.
How will my feedback actually be used?
All feedback received—from open houses, submissions, and forums—will be compiled, analyzed, and summarized by the planning team. This summary will inform the revisions made to the draft plan. A “What We Heard” report will be published, and the subsequent revised draft will clearly show how public and stakeholder input shaped the changes.
Are there specific guidelines for what can be included in a written submission?
We welcome all perspectives related to the draft land-use plan. The most helpful submissions are those that are respectful, reference specific parts of the plan, and provide clear reasoning. We ask that submissions avoid personal attacks and focus on the content and policies of the plan itself.
Who makes the final decision on the Peel Watershed Regional Land Use Plan?
Following this public consultation and the revision of the draft, the final recommended plan will be presented to the Yukon Government and First Nations partners for final approval, as per the established land claim agreement processes.
We encourage all stakeholders to actively engage in this pivotal consultation to ensure a balanced and sustainable future for the Peel Watershed. Your knowledge, passion, and perspective are essential components in crafting a final plan that honors the past, manages the present, and protects the future of this extraordinary region.