Natural Resources committee  First of all I'd like to be clear that at the moment I'm not aware of any projects that are being planned using unconventional extraction methods, i.e., fracking. Any extraction that's gone on to date has been using conventional approaches. As I said, I'm not aware of any proposal being put forward by any of the exploration people to do fracked natural gas within the Yukon.

Natural Resources committee  The Yukon chamber actually hosted a series of about a dozen workshops beginning in October of last year looking at a broad variety of potential sources of electrical generation, including wind, geothermal, biomass, in addition to hydro and more conventional sources. The challenge we found is that our geothermal sources are somewhat limited and quite frankly, distant from our existing power grid.

Natural Resources committee  It's an interesting question. Because we only have a population of 37,000 people here in the Yukon we have to recognize that for industries that require specialized expertise we will have to be turning, in addition to our own population which is very limited, to hiring people from the outside.

Natural Resources committee  I think we would have to go back to look at the criteria and approach that were used to establish the mining centre here at the Yukon College. I think this is probably a model that would provide us with a guideline; however, I'm not familiar enough with the actual approach that was used to establish that mine training facility at Yukon College to be able to speak in a terribly informed way about it.

Natural Resources committee  I think that's certainly part of the challenge: how do we create healthy growth in any community? I think the benefit we do have is that more and more people who are in a professional capacity—doctors, lawyers, and teachers—are beginning to recognize that, particularly, the Yukon in the north is a very attractive place to live and far more like it is living in, let's say, Canmore than it is living at the North Pole.

Natural Resources committee  We believe infrastructure deficits are a barrier to our development. I touched on the issue of hydroelectric power; for a long time we were the beneficiaries of surplus hydroelectric power generating capacity. Because some of that was originally built to supply mines that have subsequently shut down, right now we are at a stage where our growth has increased at approximately 3% a year to the point where we're consuming about 103% of the hydroelectric generating capacity that we have here in the territory, so we have to supplement that with diesel fired generators.

Natural Resources committee  What I was saying was that, in my impression, if there were an active oil and gas sector here in the Yukon providing opportunities for employment, I believe that the first nations populations would benefit disproportionately from it, in that, from my previous life in working with first nations, I know that many in those communities are reluctant to leave their communities or to leave the Yukon to look for employment.

Natural Resources committee  Absolutely. I think that would be a tremendous additional leg, essentially, for our economy, which right now is basically balanced between tourism and hardrock mining. If we had another leg that contributed to the economy, that would make us a more diversified environment and economy and provide all sorts of opportunities, from education to training to employment.

Natural Resources committee  Well, as I mentioned, the all-party committee that's looking into the process of hydraulic fracturing has done fairly wide consulting across the Yukon and also within the industry in Alberta and British Columbia. I am sure that they would welcome every input of information that would allow them to make the best possible recommendation for all the citizens of the Yukon.

Natural Resources committee  I wouldn't have any hard numbers for you, Mr. Leef, but anecdotally, particularly if you look amongst the younger demographics—i.e., high school graduates and folks in their twenties—we see a lot of back-and-forth transfers, particularly down to Alberta to go and work in the oil patch.

Natural Resources committee  I think that would be a really exciting opportunity. Particularly, I think there would be a disproportionately positive impact on our first nations populations, because I've encountered a reluctance on the part of many first nations...[Technical Difficulty—Editor]

Natural Resources committee  I'll try. As I mentioned, we are by default the people discussing oil and gas. It's not my field of expertise. It's my understanding that the Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in, who are the people whose traditional territory is within the area around Eagle Plains, are challenged in that they are trying to weigh the potential economic benefits of employment opportunities, were there to be a successful oil and gas exploration arena functioning out there, with their concerns for the environment.

Natural Resources committee  Super. Thank you very much. We are also challenged by the fact that in the last several years, electrical demand in the Yukon has reached our maximum combined hydroelectric and diesel generating capacity, which limits the ability of the territory to provide new power for incremental industrial development.

Natural Resources committee  Good morning. Thank you for the opportunity to address the House of Commons Standing Committee on Natural Resources. My name is Peter Turner, and I am the president or executive director of the Yukon Chamber of Commerce. The chamber is an umbrella organization that represents the four Yukon community chambers of commerce and Yukon’s business sector.