The Yukon government is moving too fast exploring oil and gas possibilities in the Whitehorse Trough, according to the majority of Yukoners who attended a public meeting Wednesday night.

The Hootalinqua Fire Hall off the Mayo Road was jam-packed with people concerned about the potential side-effects of developing the industry in their backyards.

"Why are we racing to have this gas and oil?” asked long-time Whitehorse resident Don Roberts.

"A lot of us are good readers. We see what has been destroyed in other places, and that's why we're here.”

Roberts, a former Liberal and independent MLA, helped circulate a petition asking the government to stop oil and gas exploration until more research has been done.

"We're going too fast, too quickly, and somewhere the homework hasn't been done,” continued Roberts, a retired school principal.

"Basically, I think we've got the cart before the horse.”

This drew a round of applause.

Debra Wortley, the manager of rights and royalties for the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources (EMR), and Ron Sumanik, EMR's director of oil and gas resources, were at the meeting to explain the disposition process and ease the crowd's worries.

Twelve areas of interest were targeted by oil and gas companies in January, all of them in the Whitehorse Trough – a 4,113 square kilometre area of land between Carmacks and Carcross.

This is the first time since the disposition process began that industry has been interested in this basin.

The government does not make public which or how many companies are looking to explore the area.

EMR is now in the public consultation phase.

A report to minister Brad Cathers will be compiled, and by-mid June, the highest bidder will be issued rights.

Since the oil and gas interest was made public in early February, the government has been stressing it will not necessarily issue rights; it depends on the consultation process and the final say from the minister.

The government says the territory is running out of energy, and that oil and gas might be the next best option.

It's cheaper and better for the environment than running diesel, and the industry would open up more jobs and further boost the local economy.

Those opposed are concerned about everything from water contamination to how the industry would clean up its mess after it leaves. Many say the government does not have the regulations in place to deal with controversial extraction methods like fracking.

But EMR says yes, we do.

That doesn't mean the regulations can't be enhanced, Sumanik told the meeting.

Concerns from the gathering seemed to stem from a lack of trust in the government, especially after last month's push to open the Peel watershed to industrial development despite heated public opposition.

"I have difficulty dealing with this process,” one citizen said. " I can't help but wonder, at the end of the day, if the public doesn't want this, will it go ahead anyway? The same as the Peel?”

Others felt it's already too late; that the government should have consulted with the public before permitting industry to get involved.

Some fear Yukon will become the next Alberta.

"I left Alberta because of the oil and gas industry,” one person said.

"Some people look to the province with envy, because of their economy.

"We should look at Alberta and what they don't have. We have fantastic wealth in the Yukon, and I'd hate to see it go where Alberta's has in the past 40 years.”

When the conversation turned to remediation and who is responsible for clean-up and environmental disasters, EMR representatives were clear: it's up to the industry.

Richard Corbet, of EMR operations, emerged from the back of the crowd to talk about the worst-case scenario should oil leak into the ground.

"If something horrible happens, the best thing to do is stop it as fast and safely as possible,” he said.

But if there is contamination of aquifers, it could take years to remediate, he said.

In that case, the water would be pumped into porous formations underground.

Corbet stressed regulations are in place to ensure that this situation would never happen.

"Can I offer an unconditional guarantee that it won't happen?” he said. "No, of course not.”

The next public meeting will take place at 7 p.m. March 5 at the Mt. Lorne Community Centre.

There will be a meeting and open house March 23 at the High Country Inn.