Yukon Confidential is a web log which aims to disseminate information regarding governance in the Yukon and to promote public debate on the kind of future we want.
We feel that the Yukon is at a crossroads. Our remoteness from world markets and the impact of our climate on the cost of doing business here have, for decades, protected us from the sorts of pressures that have led to the clear-cut logging of B.C. or the rip-and-tear oil and gas development of Alberta, to give just a couple of examples.
Now, though, all that is changing. Rapid economic growth in Asia is driving up the world prices of oil, timber and metals. New technologies are increasingly overcoming the traditional difficulties of taking resources out of the North, and Big Money is starting to look at the Yukon as ripe for the taking.
A succession of Yukon Governments have made it very difficult for outside business interests to know where to start to get a foothold in the territory - or have simply scared them off. Years of uncertainty over land claims, the placer authorisation process, the Yukon Environmental and Socioeconomic Assessment process and so on, have made for such a bewildering regulatory maze that no-one wants to set up a business here - especially not a resource extraction business.
Now, though, we have a territorial Government which is very keen to get the ball rolling, and to make things easy for industry. The problem is, they are cutting corners. Rather than push through a process of deregulation which would be fought at every turn in the legislature, they are making side deals, taking control of what are supposed to be "arms length" regulatory bodies, instructing regulators to back off on enforcement of environmental controls, tightening gag orders on public employees, and playing fast and loose with lisencing processes which are supposed to protect the environment and ensure public disclosure of business activities.
Over the past couple of years I have listened time and again to campfire discussions involving people all sorts of background and political persuasion, lamenting their sense of powerlessness in the face of double dealing and bullying in the public service, as the Territorial Government pushes through the resource extraction agenda, and drives a coach and horses through the democratic process while they are at it. Ours is a small community, and stepping on bosses' toes has consequences: you're not a part of the club anymore, you're not told what's going on... eventually you lose your job, or give up and move on, take early retirement, extended stress leave, and so on.
This blog aims to get information of what is really going on in government out into the public domain, where it belongs. We really want Yukoners to have some control of the future of our territory. Others know exactly what they want the Yukon to look like in ten or twenty years' time and are well on their quiet way to making it happen. We think we should have a say.
Most Yukoners I know love this territory with a passion - even if they sometimes can't put their finger on exactly why. The most common expression I have heard, when I push people to explain why it is so special to them, is "It's the last good place". I'll be damned if I'll give it up without a fight.
I see in the Yukon News (Monday October 1st, page 10) that the first week of October is "Right to Know Week" - whatever that is supposed to mean - so now seems an auspicious time to get going with this blog.
2. Who are we?
We have a small editorial group of a few people from different walks of life, and we spread the workload of writing and editing between us. We use our personal networks to dig around and turn up nasty little stories which we hope will keep the nastier elements of our government on their toes, and promote wider public debate. We don't expect to make too many friends in the process, but what the heck - that's the cost of free speech. We need to be clear though that we are not out to bash this government in particular; the emphasis is rather on prompting debate on what we want Yukon to look like in the future. Will Yukoners take control of the forces that will change the face of the territory?
3. What is Yukon Confidential about?
Energy, Mines, Resources, Highways, Agriculture, Forestry, and what YTG is up to regarding the resource sector. We reckon it is how these issues are handled that is really going to shape the Yukon of 2020 and beyond, and determine if anyone still calls it "the last good place" in the same way they do now. As we develop the site, we'll try to cover more stuff from the communities and first nations.
4. And the style? Is it just a muck-throwing machine?
Well, that would be fun, at least for a little while, but that's not what we have in mind. We don't have the people or resources to make for fully researched and well-written investigative journalism - but we will do our best. While trying to provide an entertaining read in straight-forward language, we'll also try and ensure that everything we write is substantiated, and that our opinions are based on evidence and reasonable supposition.
5. When will Yukon Confidential stop talking about itself and start publishing articles?
Watch this space... We hope to be firing the first salvos over the next few weeks. Right now we're just trying to get the site to work properly, and researching the first articles. We'll aim to have a fresh posting every couple of weeks. Once we're up and running, you'll be able to get new postings on Yukon Confidential sent automatically to your email account, by subscribing to our feed - it's free.
6. What opportunity will the public have to contribute?
We want to retain editorial control and keep the focus on governance, so (at this stage at any rate) we have not set this site up so everyone can post comments straight to it. Your input is important to us, though. Please send any comments or information you may have to offer to the email address that appears on this page.
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