Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, and it presents real problems, because we could be going through four major assessments in June, when all our appointments come up. It would mean that we would be gone, and everything would start from scratch on four really major assessments that we'd be involved in. It's a problem.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The argument in the Yukon towards this is, what should the timelines be? But the certainty of timelines is what everybody appreciates under our process, particularly industry.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  They're totally competing interests, and I am amazed, going on a thousand assessments, at the real lack of controversy there has been. Having come from an entrepreneurial and political background, when I saw YESAA being created, I said, “My goodness, this is incredibly complex, both the act and the regulations, and I'm not sure whether it can work in the Yukon”.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  There have been several questions on what should come first: the land use planning or YESAB. Just to put this in a historical context, which is a really important context, it would be great if all of the land use plans in the Yukon had been in effect before YESAB came into effect.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The only comment I have is that Ian keeps referring to us as the rear end of the project, which I take total exception to.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We really believe in the land planning process because we feel that it is going to make our job that much easier. In areas where there isn't land use planning, I take.... Well, in the Champagne-Aishihik traditional area, there's a block of land where we're getting application after application for agricultural purposes, on an almost daily basis.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Absolutely.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I have just one added comment on Stephen's comment on the Carmacks-Stewart transmission line. You see, there were three governments involved in the assessment: Little Salmon Carmacks, because they have a settled land claim or a decision body and acts as a government; Selkirk First Nations, because they have a first nation government and act as a decision body; and then the YG acts as a decision body.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  No, we're not involved in the negotiations, and we won't be, because they're between governments. As an assessment body, we just aren't in that category. Both Stephen and I have had a long history in the settlement of the first nations that have settled in the Yukon, so naturally we follow all the negotiations very closely.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We're really lucky, because we have a Vuntut Gwitchin member from Old Crow to answer your question.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  It's obvious: because of Stephen's great negotiating skills in creating the act.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'll defer to him on this one.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Thank you very much for inviting us. Your press release of October 30, 2009, launching your comprehensive study of issues related to northern economic development, states that, “The Committee intends to focus on gaining a better understanding of the barriers and challenges northerners in the three territories face in promoting their economic well-being, and possible solutions to overcome those barriers”.