The Yukon Party continued calling on the territorial government to reappoint a member of a renewable resource council Tuesday.

Kluane MLA Wade Istchenko tabled a petition signed by almost 100 people, urging Environment Minister Pauline Frost to reappoint John Trotter.

“The minister chose not to reappoint him, despite there being no other applications at the time and strong community support for him to be reappointed,” Istchenko told the legislature.

Trotter is currently listed as the co-chair of the Alsek Renewable Resource Council.

The Haines Junction-based council, created in 1995, serves as a voice for the local community concerned with managing renewable resources like wildlife, forests and fish.

It also acts as a group that consults frequently on planning and regulation with the surrounding First Nations, territorial and federal governments.

Though located in the Junction, it serves multiple areas, including Takhini, Silver City and Canyon Creek.

Comprised of six full-time positions, the council is made up of three Yukon government-nominated members, while the remaining half are appointed by the First Nations government.

The council’s mandate is set out in the Champagne Aishihik First Nation Final Agreement in chapters 16 and 17.

A provision of the Umbrella Final Agreement, it governs, among other things, the appointment of renewable resource councils in Yukon First Nations’ traditional territories.

It also dictates that while councils are able to determine on their own how to select a chairperson, the environment minister is to officially appoint the member.

But responding to the petition Monday, Frost insisted that her decisions to appoint members to councils were not motivated by her position.

“In the spirit and intent of the final agreement, which established the renewable resources councils, these appointments are not political,” she told the legislature – despite having acknowledged earlier that “appointments to the renewable resources council are made by cabinet.

“I must advise that there is a defined process under Yukon First Nation final agreements, which we must follow with respect to appointments to councils,” Frost continued in her initial response to the petition Monday.

“We understand the process, we know how it works, and so do the 99 people who signed the petition,” Istchenko said Tuesday. He questioned why the minister had not reappointed Trotter.

“We will follow the process,” responded Frost. “I will leave it at that.”

Neither Istchenko nor Frost were available for further comment for this story.

A spokesperson for the Yukon Party did, however, provide a statement.

“It is disappointing for us to see the Minister of Environment refuse to directly answer the petition tabled by MLA Istchenko on behalf of concerned residents in the Kluane area,” it reads.

The council’s website adds that “the Minister of Environment appoints members generally in April each year,” often for a term of three years.

A January 2018 list detailing memberships of the council and the Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management board indicates Trotter was appointed by the government in April 2015.

According to the document, his membership expired March 31 of this year.