The Dawson Regional Planning Commission has unveiled a comprehensive recommended land use plan for a vast 39,854-square-kilometre area in central Yukon, covering about 10 per cent of the territory’s land mass.
Plan Overview and Co-Management Approach
This 480-page document, developed over several years, fulfills requirements under Chapter 11 of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Final Agreement. Grounded in co-management principles, the plan emphasizes collaboration between Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in and the Yukon government.
“There is an expectation that in the implementation of this plan, the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in and the Government of Yukon work together as equal and respectful partners to bring the vision and intention of this plan to life,” the plan states.
Landscape Divisions and Development Guidelines
The region divides into 22 landscape management units, each with tailored recommendations on allowable activities. Certain zones prioritize conservation, prohibiting industrial development or exploration, while others support mining or tourism projects.
The plan excludes lands within Dawson city limits and established protected areas, such as Tombstone Territorial Park.
Mining Recommendations and Restrictions
Placer mining, a key economic driver, receives approval in designated areas, with calls for streamlined, transparent permitting processes. Officials recommend partnering with local miners and communities to outline placer mining’s future.
Hard rock or quartz mining proves incompatible under existing regulations, as territorial mining laws remain outdated and inadequate for managing associated risks. No active hard rock mines operate in the region currently.
A specific prohibition targets heap-leach mining under the current framework, following the 2024 Eagle mine incident near Mayo, where a heap leach failure released toxic cyanide, leading to closure and ongoing remediation.
The Yukon government continues efforts to modernize its century-old mining legislation.
Next Steps and Historical Context
Established in 2018 as an independent body, the commission issued a draft in 2022 before finalizing these recommendations. Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in and the Yukon government now review the plan, consulting affected communities, with options to accept, reject, or amend it.
Upon adoption, this becomes Yukon’s third regional land use plan, following North Yukon in 2009 and Peel Watershed in 2019. The Peel plan emerged from a prolonged legal dispute resolved by the Supreme Court of Canada, which ruled that the territorial government had breached treaty obligations by disregarding prior commission advice on protecting 80 per cent of the watershed.
