The Yukon Chamber of Mines says two thirds of the public comments on the draft land use plan for the Peel River watershed are from the pro-mining sector.

Chamber president Carl Schulze said the support shown by almost 1,000 submissions demonstrates the importance of the industry to individuals and companies relying on it for a living.

It also lays to rest any misconception that the feverish debate over the Peel is completely dominated by those in favour of outright wilderness protection for the vast area, he said.

"Why we are doing this, of course, is to show that mining and its associated service sector is large, and it is strong," Schulze said in an interview Tuesday. "There is a large portion of the Yukon economy interested in seeing this sector prosper."

The chamber did organize an effort to have those working in or affiliated with mining to sign a two-paragraph declaration indicating their support for the industry and their opposition to the draft land use plan. More than 100 declarations were received from the Cantung mine alone.

Schulze dismissed any notion of underlying pressure on employees to sign.

The declarations represent heartfelt sentiments of those who depend on the industry for their livelihood, and the well-being of their families, he said, adding there were also stacks of written submissions from companies.

He reiterated there are those who firmly believe the Yukon cannot depend on government jobs alone, and there is a growing need for a prosperous private sector to pay off the mounting national debt that is funding the Yukon's transfer payments.

Last Tuesday was the deadline for public comments on the final draft land use plan for the Peel River watershed, though the three affected first nation governments and the Yukon government have until July 31 to make their submissions.

While Premier Dennis Fentie has been accused of suppressing government documents critical of industrial use in the area, the affected first nations have called for much more wilderness protection than is currently proposed.

The commission released figures Monday indicating it had received 1,546 submissions on the plan by the June 30 deadline.

How best to manage land use over the 68,042 square kilometres has caused immense controversy over the last five months since the planning commission released the first three land use options, followed in April by its final draft.

Those favouring protection feel the land use plan provides far too much access to industry, arguing it's not possible to have pristine wilderness with a maze of industrial roads running through it. The Peel watershed is an untouched jewel of global importance that should be cherished, not exploited, they argue.

The mining and oil and gas industries maintain the final draft is far too restrictive, that it will choke interest and investment in the region. The Peel area is rich in resources, resources which the world depends on in everyday life, from the metal in cars to the steel in wind generators, the industries argue.

The pro-wilderness camp, including the Yukon's tourism industry, have insisted that conservationists out-number the pro-industry sector by a country mile. What is largely seen as a pro-industry territorial government, should take notice, conservationists warn.

No so, Schulze insisted.

"We are showing there are a lot of people out there who favour responsible mining in the Peel."

He said when it comes time for the final decision, the government must reflect the wishes of the majority, suggesting with 1,000 of the 1,500 submissions coming from the mining sector, it's clear where the majority lies.

As 97 per cent of the planning area is territorial Crown land, it will largely be up to the Yukon government to accept, reject or alter the final recommendation from the planning commission.

The planning commission is expected to forward its final recommendation to the governments by mid-fall.