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Peel case headed to the Supreme Court of Canada

First Nations & Yukon Environmental groups granted leave to take the Peel Watershed Case to the Supreme Court of Canada

On June 9th 2016, the Supreme Court of Canada gave notice that it will be hearing The First Nation of Nacho Nyak Dun et al v Government of Yukon, otherwise known as the Peel Watershed case. The case will be heard in Ottawa after leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada was submitted by the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun, the Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in, the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, CPAWS Yukon and the Yukon Conservation Society in December 2015.

"We signed our Final Agreements with Canada and the Government of Yukon in 1993, and we came to the table again in good faith for the Peel Watershed consultations," said Chief Simon Mervyn of the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun. "We are pleased that Canada’s highest court recognizes the legally binding nature of these agreements and the national significance of this case.”

The Peel Watershed is home to the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun, the Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in, Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, and the Tetlit Gwich'in Council.

“The Supreme Court’s decision confirms what we’ve maintained all along: there are significant legal questions raised by the Yukon Government’s conduct during the Peel planning process that deserve the Supreme Court’s—and Canada’s—attention,” Chief Roberta Joseph of the Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in said. “We are thankful for this opportunity and look forward to defending the integrity of our Final Agreements.”

Chief Bruce Charlie from the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation expresses his elation on the decision.  He states: “This pristine wilderness, caribou habitat and eco systems is an essential element of our very existence, the integrity of our agreements will be clarified once and for all and will stand the test of time”.  

The Peel Watershed is one of the largest unspoiled natural areas in North America. At 68,000 km², it is larger than the entire province of Nova Scotia.

“The Peel River Watershed is a wild land in a world that is quickly losing its wilderness," added Yukon Conservation Society Executive Director Christina Macdonald, "We are looking to the Supreme Court of Canada to help us keep it that way.”

Six rivers flow through this landscape into the Peel River, which travels north to the Arctic Ocean via the Mackenzie River Delta. Grizzly bears, wolves, and caribou roam freely; migratory birds find sanctuary in the wetlands; and rare plant populations thrive.

Chris Rider, Executive Director of CPAWS Yukon, stated “The Supreme Court of Canada’s decision to hear this case shows that they recognize the value of the Peel Watershed. It is a treasure of international significance and it deserves protection. Beyond this, the final ruling will set a precedent for all future land use planning in the Yukon and the significance of that cannot be underestimated.”

Lawyer for the case Thomas Berger says the proponents are in a good position.

Mr. Berger stated, “It is important to remember that the Court of Appeal’s judgment upheld Justice Veale’s decision to set aside the Government of Yukon’s Peel Watershed Regional Land Use Plan of January 2014. The Court of Appeal held that the Government of Yukon failed to honour the letter and spirit of its treaty during the initial consultation with First Nations and Yukoners.

However, the Court of Appeal, instead of remitting the matter to the stage of final consultation (as Justice Veale had), remitted the planning process to the earlier stage at which the Government of Yukon, having received the Recommended Plan (back in 2010), was to consult with First Nations and affected communities and then approve, reject or propose modifications to the Recommended Plan.

The Court of Appeal’s judgment thus allows the Government of Yukon to go back to 2010 and to start the process over at the point when it received the Commission’s Recommended Plan. The Court of Appeal also held that the Government of Yukon had final authority at the end of the day to reject any plan resulting from the process.

We are now in a position to argue, before the Supreme Court of Canada, that on all of these points the judgement of the Court of Appeal should be set aside and Justice Veale’s judgement reinstated.“

Mr. Berger concluded: “We will now be moving the appeal forward as quickly as we can under the rules of The Supreme Court.”
The affected First Nations and environmental groups will be organizing public information events within Whitehorse and the communities in the weeks to come. Notice of these events will be widely circulated.
Stand with the First Nations and environmental groups in their work to protect the Peel Watershed by signing the new Peel Pledge, which was launched today on http://www.protectpeel.ca


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CPAWS Yukon Chapter
506 Steele St. 
Whitehorse, Yukon, Y1A 2C9
(867) 393-8080

Yukon Conservation Society
302 Hawkins Street
Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 1X6
(867) 668-5678