Photo by Whitehorse Star
Liberal Leader Sandy
Party has been crystal-clear, Silver insists
Territorial Liberal Leader Sandy Silver says his party has been absolutely clear on its position regarding the development of the territory’s oil and gas resources.
Territorial Liberal Leader Sandy Silver says his party has been absolutely clear on its position regarding the development of the territory’s oil and gas resources.
A Liberal government would not issue any permits for fracking, Silver said in an interview Thursday afternoon. He spoke to the Star after his party was accused of being non-committal and wishy-washy on the issue.
Silver said the party can’t be any clearer than that.
The Liberals do support conventional oil and gas development on Eagle Plain, in keeping with the provisions of both the North Yukon Land Use Plan and the land use plan for the Peel recommended by the planning commission, he said.
“I am not going to tell local First Nations what they can and can’t do on their settlements lands,” said the Klondike MLA.
Silver said regarding the future of the Whitehorse Tough, which is under a moratorium on oil and gas exploration imposed by the Yukon Party government, the answer lies in land use planning.
“We need to get on with land use planning, absolutely,” Silver said.
“We need to get everybody to the table. We have to respect the First Nations are in the resource game.”
Members of Yukoners Concerned About Oil and Gas Exploration/Development held a press conference Thursday to denounce what they described as a wishy-washy Liberal position regarding oil and gas (see story above).
Only the NDP has committed to investment in renewable energy alternatives and not more oil and gas development that would increase the territory’s greenhouse gas emissions when the planet can least absorb it, they insisted.
Those at the news conference said only the NDP has clearly vowed there would be no fracking if that party is elected to office.
Not so, insisted Silver, who met with the three members of Yukoners Concerned in June.
“A Liberal government would not issue permits for fracking, period,” said the Liberal leader.
“... If Yukoners Concerned want to back the NDP, I do not think that is a surprise to anybody.”
Silver said the Liberals believe there is an addiction to fossil fuels, but also believe there is the ability to get off that dependency working with other governments.
Liberal caucus spokesman Jason Cunning said in interview this morning while he’s heard at least one NDP candidate say no to any oil and gas development, he hasn’t heard any elected New Democrats say that.
If the NDP is opposed to all oil and gas development, Cunning asked, does that mean an NDP government would reject all permits sought for the ongoing oil and gas exploration program on Eagle Plain?
The NDP has not released its platform on oil and gas development, though the party has said there would be no fracking under an NDP government.
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Comments (11)
Up 11 Down 3
Fenton on Aug 8, 2016 at 5:55 pm
Let's see a crystal clear statement on why the colluded gas price in Whitehorse is 30 cents/liter more than the Costco price in Grande Prairie on any given day. That is way beyond exorbitant. Carbon tax that if you please.
Up 12 Down 13
Jack Colby on Aug 8, 2016 at 12:17 pm
Local Liberals - you want my vote ?
Put your 4 year plan in a "Liberal Red Book"
Up 21 Down 10
Cliff on Aug 7, 2016 at 7:36 pm
"A Liberal government would not issue any permits for fracking, Silver said in an interview Thursday afternoon. He spoke to the Star after his party was accused of being non-committal and wishy-washy on the issue.
Silver said the party can’t be any clearer than that.
The Liberals do support conventional oil and gas development on Eagle Plain, in keeping with the provisions of both the North Yukon Land Use Plan and the land use plan for the Peel recommended by the planning commission, he said. "
What part of these quotes are causing confusion? When opponents don't really want an answer they won't recognize one no matter what.
Up 32 Down 4
Moose on Aug 7, 2016 at 3:46 pm
I for one am shocked, SHOCKED that the group "Members of Yukoners Concerned About Oil and Gas Exploration/Development " is backing the anti-development party NDP. Geeze, I bet no one saw that coming! Let me look into my crystal ball again.... I now foresee enviro groups against new land for housing developments in Whitehorse (aka friends of McIntyre Creek, friends of this, friends of that) also supporting the NDP!! I wonder if that will come to pass.
Up 22 Down 3
north_of_60 on Aug 7, 2016 at 12:57 pm
@G d/N is correct. We know the NDP will impose a carbon tax if ever elected. Let's see a "crystal clear" statement about the proposed carbon tax from the LIB.
Up 25 Down 23
Liberals and NDP show Yukoners the vision on Aug 6, 2016 at 11:54 am
They don't have one.
Up 17 Down 25
Josey Wales on Aug 6, 2016 at 7:51 am
Hmmm...where to start?
Admittedly I had a rather loooong post submitted last night, hopefully it will be posted so....
I'll keep this brief.
Given that our community of Whitehorse and many others are clearly breeding grounds for criminals due to epic and boy do I mean epic enabling, the freaking world is very much on fire I think a paradigm shift in all political focus is required.
Perhaps Sandy and the rest of the noble blowholes can at least supply the optics of concern for the inevitable "Shariah" creep infecting us like a cancer.
Come up with CLEAR and concise rules of welcoming newcomers that absolutely HATE us, reminding them they now reside here in Canada.
Despite Sandy's parties attempts at destroying what is left of us, we still stand true north strong and free(ish).
Clearly I push those boundaries and will push harder as need be.
If the nobles wish to appease the PC Crusaders and cherish the 7th century and embrace that crap MORE than currently?
Consider my shark tank chum stocked and my appetite for feasting increased.
I will never ever kowtow or deal with anyone in a full bee keeper.
I will never accept a 'crat, cop, judge whatever in said full bee keeper.
I absolutely will not accept religious fanatics under the guise of culture.
See where this is going Sandy?
As stated all political parties need to pull their PC Crusader heads outta their colon, take a deeeep breath of the clean mountain air saturated with freedom (eroding daily..but still here).
And ask yourself what is a bigger concern, putting out the fire...or the s.o.p. currently?
Very rhetoric as I know we will burn, and your party Sandy is the fuel on which it feeds...at least here in soon to be Canadastan
Up 48 Down 8
ProScience Greenie on Aug 5, 2016 at 8:34 pm
Members of Yukoners Concerned About Oil and Gas Exploration/Development have consistently and recklessly lied and exaggerated their concerns. Totally anti-science and not at all green. Hopefully all our political parties will strongly reject any association with that group.
Up 24 Down 12
June Jackson on Aug 5, 2016 at 6:45 pm
Personally, I am not against responsible mining. I realize that most if not all of Canada's wealth lies with oil, gas, ore and water. The key word here is responsible. Fracking is NOT responsible and opening up the Peel to wide scale mining is also not responsible. The Peel is our watershed http://protectpeel.ca/
The Yukon has 186.27 thousand sq miles of territory. We are dotted with caps, oil and gas, staked for ore. Exploration companies waiting for prices to sky rocket or a government to come into office that can be bought off and convinced to approve mining practice that is not responsible. Like.. fracking...or will make deals that allow a company to destroy our countryside and let them walk away stinging our merchants, leaving workers unpaid.. to me, that is all development that is not responsible.
Up 19 Down 4
moe on Aug 5, 2016 at 4:50 pm
Good article. Got some solid commitments out of the politicians.
Up 29 Down 8
Groucho d/North on Aug 5, 2016 at 4:24 pm
Mr. Silver, Yukon's Oil and gas sector is much more than just fracking, and in this context I disagree that your position has been shared with Yukoners so that it is "crystal clear". How about sharing your platform so that the Yukon electorate has some time to compare you against the other contenders and there is some time to consider what policies you are proposing in detail. Also related to the oil & gas sector, where does the Yukon Liberal party stand on a CO2 tax? Be crystal clear please - we are waiting.