Secretariat:

Guest Presenters:

Dr. Fraser Mustard addressed the Council. He shared ideas on ways to attract economic development to the Yukon without jeopardizing the lifestyle that is important to Yukon people. Topics discussed included:

• the use of natural gas and hydrogen sources for electricity
• biological sciences
• the attraction of educated people to the Yukon
• incorporation of the college/integration of knowledge
• a computer based focus
• establishing an electronic advisory group

Following the Guest Speaker, the Agenda was approved as written. It was noted that Lori Walton would be addressing the Council at 2:30 P.M. on November 27^th in reference to the Yukon Mineral Strategy.

Kathy Watson moved that the minutes of the June 10 - 12, 1999, meeting be approved as written. Seconded by Louise Bouvier. MOTION PASSED.

• Yukon Government Fund Limited - Council discussed action item: "Chair will write a letter to all of the member's nominating interests explaining YCEE's concerns". Council also reviewed CBC's request for copies of Council's correspondence with Government. Council agreed that CBC should follow the access to information process to obtain the correspondence.

  ACTION: The Acting Chair will send a letter to the Council's nominating interests explaining YCEE's concerns.

• Community Conferences - Council discussed the status of the Interim Report. The former YCEE Chair is rewriting the report; completion is scheduled for late December 1999. Council agreed that the former YCEE Chair should be compensated for the rewriting of the report.

  ACTION: Secretariat will ensure that Council reviews the Interim Report before it is finalized and will prepare a contract for the rewriting of the report.

The working group updated Council on the responses received to the Request for Proposals to establish development indicators to be used in the YCEE's periodic review of the Yukon Economic Strategy and on the procedure followed in evaluating the proposals. L. Bouvier moved that the Council accept the proposal from The Pembina Institute as per the working group's recommendation; N. Edelson seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. L. Ranger requested that the working group ensure the communities are included in the process of establishing the development indicators.

Council agreed to have the storyboards (prepared for the community conferences and the Women's Circumpolar Conference) available for public and government use. Council discussed the requirement of a deposit where necessary to ensure the replacement of damaged boards. Instead of developing a booklet as initially proposed, Council agreed to place electronic copies on the web site with the possibility of scanning in the pictures.

The consulting group presented Council with an Interim Report on the Revisions to the YCS and the YCS Revision Phase II Report. Council was briefed on the work completed to date.

The next steps proposed by the group were to:

• conduct a workshop to agree on the goals and identify indicators for each goal
• prepare documents on goals and objectives
• have discussions with senior government officials

Renewable Resources staff advised that the revisions should be linked to the State of the Environment Report. Phase III will incorporate looking at the action items and identifying new action items to meet the objectives of the Strategy as well as addressing the "orphans" which were not previously looked at.

Progress has been limited to date. A. Williams agreed to take this on with the help of the Acting Chair.

J. Bell, Policy Officer, Executive Council Office provided Council with an update on the Economic Forums and expressed interest in working with the Council on a sustainable development topic. Council provided Bell with input on what they felt was working with the Forums and offered suggestions for improvement.

The relevancy of the Council holding a Whitehorse Conference was discussed. Council decided they would hold a Whitehorse Conference in the spring. This will fulfill the Council's original objective and promises made to the communities, allowing for the process to be completed. Council agreed that they would like to contract J. Mauro to organize this conference with the assistance of A. McLaughlin and the Economic Forum resources.

Council agreed to have Renewable Resources staff attend the next meeting to provide an update, explain the process needed to complete the regulations and inform Council of their role in the process.

Members updated the Council on recent developments and issues relating to their nominating interests.

The suggestion was made to have Council look at Devolution, particularly the forest fire and environmental remediation matters. Council requested that this be on the agenda for the next meeting.

Scott Milton, Manager of Economic Policy, Economic Development presented an overview of the Kyoto Protocol and Rob McWilliam, President and CEO of Yukon Development Corporation reviewed credit options with the Council.

Council discussed updating and finalizing the community profiles which were prepared for the "Focus on the Future" Community Conferences. It was decided not to spend further funds on this project but to talk to Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC), who are currently completing Yukon community profiles, and discuss information sharing possibilities.

Yvonne Harris, Manager, Planning and Resource Policy, Renewable Resources presented Council with an advance copy of the State of the Environment Report for review. Council was advised that:

• Renewable Resources is hoping to table the SOER in the next week or two
• technical cleanup has yet to be completed
• if changes are made to the text, Council will be advised
• public release is scheduled for February

Council reviewed the advance copy and pointed out several inaccuracies and suggestions for improvement as noted on the attached background sheet.

John Masterson, Senior Oil and Gas Analyst, Economic Development presented the Council with an overview of the oil and gas royalty regulations.

Lori Walton, Mining Advisor, Economic Development reviewed the Yukon Mineral Strategy with the Council.

Council reviewed a letter dated November 22, 1999, from the Advanced Education Branch of the Yukon Government which requested that YCEE have a youth representative on its Council. Council discussed the merits of this request and supported in principle a youth being appointed to the Council. The suggestion of a "youth shadow group" was also put forward.

The draft workplan was reviewed and the revisions, noted below, will be implemented into the final workplan:

• YCS Review - deadline changed from November 1999 to March 2000.
• YCS Revisions - deadline changed from Fall 1999 to March 2000.
• Community Profiles - delete the detail and cost. Insert under detail that a letter will be sent to HRDC requesting information sharing; deadline is the next meeting.
• Sustainable Initiatives Project - note that the project was completed in November 1999 and insert the total cost.
• Speaker Series - ECO Secretariat will follow up on this.
• Circumpolar Women's Conference - note that this was completed in November 1999.
• Community Conferences - completion of the Interim Report — December 1999 (budget $2,000). Whitehorse Conference - completion Spring 2000 (budget $15,000).

K. Watson moved that the workplan be approved with the above amendments; L. Bouvier seconded. MOTION PASSED

______________________________________

Daryn Leas, Acting Chair

• Graph on Page 29 needs more work on the format in which the material is reported
• Include the readings from upstream in the next SOER
• Reference to the Free Trade reciprocal agreements, which are being tested, needed in the graph on Page 22. Note to be added referencing this at the national and international level.
• Definitions of "wilderness", "natural", and "developed" were questioned, particularly natural and wilderness - Page 38. Ralph expressed concern that this was not correct.
• Graph on Page 41 has references wrong.
• Box on top of Page 36 has several spelling mistakes
• K. Watson asked that the chart on Page 57 - current composition of Whitehorse waste be corrected. Figure needs more explanation.
• Also questioned the 1996 figure at bottom of Page 57.
• Spatial comparison of Class 3 lands is missing. Helpful to show where the land compares sales of agriculture produced with where dispositions have been - Page 65. If dispositions were in high soil area dispositions would be higher.
• Noted that the salmon catch was down in the Dawson area. It was explained that not as many people were fishing due to the fish plant closing - no market for the fish.
• Caribou map on Page 93 needs corrections.