There may be a need to extend negotiations around the land use plan recommended for the Peel watershed.

In a letter sent to the chiefs of the affected first nations, Energy, Mines and Resources Minister Patrick Rouble noted he is aware of their concern with the current schedule, and the possibility there may be a need to change it.

In a letter of understanding last January, the Yukon and four affected first nation governments agreed they would provide their official response to the recommendation no later than the middle of this month.

In a scolding Nov. 18 press release, Chief Eddie Taylor of the Tr'ondek Hwech'in First Nation and Chief Simon Mervyn of the First Nation of Nacho Nyak Dun lashed out at the Yukon government's performance on the Peel file.

The chiefs went so far as to suggest Premier Dennis Fentie and his cabinet were afraid to reveal their position because of the strong support Yukoners have shown for maximum wilderness protection for the Peel River watershed.

The Yukon government, the chiefs indicated, has been in possession of their position since late October, but they have received nothing in return.

Without an official position tabled by the Yukon, there was no way to advance discussion on a matter of paramount importance, and time was becoming a major factor, the chiefs indicate.

In his response to the terse press release, Rouble sent the chiefs a letter indicating he was working with his cabinet to finalize the Yukon government's position prior to the next meeting of senior representatives from each party.

Rouble also acknowledged the chiefs' concern with the schedule, and their request to extend the moratorium on staking mineral claims within the planning area beyond Feb. 4.

Government communication officer Rod Jacob said the next meeting of the senior liaison committee made up of senior representatives from the different parties is Dec. 15.

Ultimately, it will be Rouble who signs off on the Yukon government's official response to the plan recommended by Peel Watershed Planning Commission.

The parties can recommend the commission make changes to its plan.

If the parties cannot agree on a response, it will largely be up to the Yukon government to accept, reject or alter the commission's plan, as 97 per cent of the 68,042 square kilometres is Yukon Crown land.

In what has been a hotly contested and divisive debate over the last two years, three of the most affected first nations have come out in full support of the commission plan which recommends maximum wilderness protection.

While the wilderness protection camp in the Yukon has embraced the commission's work, the mining community has condemned it as a death knell for the industry in what amounts to another 14 per cent of the Yukon.

The Peel planning commission delivered its final recommendation last December, after a year of public debate. Its members indicated there was no way to make both sides happy.

Therefore, they explained, they choose maximum wilderness protection for now, with hopes that someday new technology, such as giant airships to haul ore, would be available to lessen the impact of industrial development inside the planning area.

The next meeting of the senior liaison committee is scheduled for a day after the territorial byelection.

Liberal byelection candidate Kirk Cameron and NDP candidate Liz Hanson have thrown their support behind maximum wilderness protection.

Yukon Party candidate Mike Nixon has not indicated his position, other than to express his support for the process.