The Yukon Chamber of Mines is looking forward to working with the new Liberal party government, says executive director Samson Hartland.

He said the chamber has not, however, lost sight of the uncertainty over the future of mineral claims in the Peel watershed, with the Liberal commitment to implement the land use plan recommended by the Peel Land Use Planning Commission.

The plan calls for 80 per cent wilderness protection over the 68,042 square kilometres with next to no road nor rail access through the wilderness area.

Hartland said implementing the plan would amount to de facto expropriation of the claims, but beyond that, he’s not sure how events will unfold.

“I do not have the answer to that question but I am sure there are very many different opinions out there and there are mechanisms to address that,” he said in an interview.

“That will be something this government will need to be prepared to navigate.”

Hartland pointed out the chamber did put questions to all the parties during the election campaign and did post the responses.

It’s particularly pleased by the Liberal commitment to build a new relationship with First Nations, he said.

He said the chamber is looking forward to sitting down with premier-designate Sandy Silver and the new Energy, Mines and Resources minister to discuss the issues and priorities of chamber members.

The federal government announced last week it’s putting up $35 billion to establish an investment agency to support the development of infrastructure, Hartland pointed out.

He said the creation of an independent investment agency, much like Alaska’s model, is something the chamber has been encouraging and hoping to see.

What the chamber is seeking now is clarity in what opportunities exactly will be available through the initiative announced by Ottawa, he said.

Hartland said they’ll be asking the new Liberal government to lobby for a provision that sets aside infrastructure money specifically for the northern territories.

“We have a territorial government that is aligned with Ottawa and we are asking them to deliver that message to Ottawa,” he said.

“We are pleased with the election of a Yukon Liberal government and looking forward to working with them on issues that are important.”

The Alaskan model involves a self-sustaining, independent agency that loans money to invest in the development of infrastructure to assist both the private and public sectors.

Money to improve the ore facility at the Port of Skagway, used largely by Yukon companies to ship product overseas, came from the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, for example.

The Yukon Chamber of Mines maintains that a similar funding agency in the North could assist with infrastructure that would reduce costs and ultimately increase economic viability for mining projects in the territory.

No date has been announced for the swear-in of the new government.