'(The Department of Community Services and the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources are) acting defensively, like two separate governments' with little attempt to integrate their land disposition roles, in an environment where corporate knowledge is not shared, where there is a poor understanding of authority levels and where personal agendas' are predominant in some areas of both departments.'

So states a draft report commissioned by the Department of Community Services aimed at looking into land disposition in the Yukon and the application review processes and planning linkages between the department and Energy, Mines and Resources.

The report, which was leaked by the NDP last week, is very 'honest,' Mount Lorne MLA Steve Cardiff told the Star.

'There's nothing sugar-coated in the report,' he said.

The 41-page document, which when the final draft is completed will cost approximately $25,000, was completed by Marsh Lake company, Spin Drift Business Enterprises in November.

The report goes on to indicate the two departments responsible for land in the territory operate on 'different values respecting client service and timing of dealing with applications.

'A lack of policy and process with respect to the development of local area plans and a resulting patchwork of plans and/or regulations, has created an environment for inconsistencies, which in turn creates difficulties with review and analysis of applications and a greater reliance on discretion',' states the report, which candidly interviewed 28 officials in the two departments.

In the interviews, many officials stated '...that there is a lack of overall clear direction with respect to a Yukon government land disposition program, no vision' or no strategy to guide process', no overall land management or land disposition policies'.'

There are also accusations of 'massive amounts of political interference in the process.'

Staff interviewed for the report indicated there are 'too many steps in an application that are handled by too many people' and that there is too much duplication in the process between the two departments.

'I say to Community Services, good on ya' for putting that report out,' Energy, Mines and Resources Minister Archie Lang said following questions in the legislature. 'And when that final draft comes forward, the final report, hopefully we can act on that and get land out to Yukoners.'

With the implementation of the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Act (YESAA) and an unclear view from either department on how the new process 'might be integrated with the existing process other than to note it will seemingly further complicate and confuse an already complex and confusing process,' this is the time to act, states the report.

Short-term recommendations in the report include:

ï discontinuing the Agricultural Land Application Review Committee (ALARC) and its incorporation into the Land Application Review Committee (LARC);

ï having only officials in the lands branch delegated to dispose of land under the Land Act;

ï transferring the land planning unit in Community Services to the lands branch in Energy, Mines and Resources;

ï responsibility of the Subdivision Act to be transferred to the Energy, Mines and Resources minister; and

ï the existing land disposition appeal levels should be 'scrapped' and a single level at the municipal board should be established.

Long-term suggestions are also presented, which include:

ï preparation of 'high level strategic land management goals';

ï modernizing and harmonizing current land legislation to provide 'seamless land disposition processes';

ï establishing a planning hierarchy; and

ï consideration toward developing a Department of Lands.

'It will be interesting to see how the government spins the final report,' said Cardiff, adding the government has taken far too long to reach even this point.

'I don't know whether the politicians are taking the report seriously,' he said.

'But the report is showing things are not OK. There is the need for clear policies and procedures. The departments are at odds with each other and that needs some political leadership.'

Premier Dennis Fentie said there has long been the recognition there needs to be improvement in how land is handled in the Yukon.

'That's why we're trying to go through this protocol process,' he told reporters.

'Through the devolution and then the restructuring of government we acquired, there was a little chaos that went on,' said Lang.

'You don't take over that massive department in the Yukon without some issues. What we're trying to do with this audit or overview is to simplify it.'

'People have been waiting for 30 years for a land disposition process that's fair, timely and simple,' Cardiff told the house. 'First nations are angry and frustrated. Municipalities are angry and frustrated. Even industry is angry and frustrated.

'This is a hot-button issue with very many people. They want to know the simple stuff, like which minister to phone to get their land application approved.'