Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I think the first nations can decide for themselves what rights need to be protected.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I agree with you. And I think you elaborated on that really well yourself.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I do have a comment, though, about the issue of delays through the environmental assessment process. I would say, on this concern about the adequacy review, that I think it's incumbent upon proponents to come up with all the full information about the project right away. That would really shorten the process for them.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I would say there is a lack of trust about what these policy directions are going to be used for. That lack of trust is not surprising considering that there are four amendments to YESAA that the first nations have big problems with, which they did not receive notice about until very late in the process.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  That's fine.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  It was on behalf of the conservation society, but with CPAWS and the first nations.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Actually, the situation was surprisingly similar to the present one. Yukon government, after letting the land use planning process go on for years and years, sort of sprang out at the very end with a new land use plan that had not really been consulted upon properly with first nations and the public.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Well, you can tell that Lewis and I worked together for many years, because he took the words right out of my mouth about a race to the bottom. YESAA is made-in-the-Yukon legislation that is unique in regard to our particular needs. I think it's working really well, and it works better all the time.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Hello. Thank you to the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council for hosting these hearings in their traditional territories. Thank you to the standing committee for the invitation to present. I was executive director of the Yukon Conservation Society from 2006 to 2014.