Members Present:

Guests:

Regrets:

Secretariat:

The chair welcomed new member Randy Taylor from the Yukon Conservation Society and administrative support contractor, Tamar Vandenberghe. Curtis Shaw from the Yukon Chamber of Commerce has been officially appointed. The second Council of Yukon First Nations seat is still outstanding.

Ralph Nordling moved and Bill Mann seconded the motion to approve the agenda as presented. The motion carried.

Bill Mann moved and Ralph Nordling seconded the motion to approve the April 19 & 20, 2002 minutes as modified. The motion carried.

1. Yukon Conservation Strategy
   Response from DM of environment stating that YCEE revision is on hold until public review takes places this fall. YCEE would be included in this review.
2. Yukon Economic Strategy Obligation
   Letter sent to Minister Kent confirming that the YCEE will now use the Government of Yukon's Accountability Plan as a tool to measure the Yukon Government's progress on the economy instead of evaluating the Yukon Economic Strategy to fulfill the council's legislated obligation.
3. Immigrant Investor Fund
   Letter received from Minister of Business, Tourism & Culture providing an update on the Immigrant Investor Fund. Council discussed the immigrant Investor Fund. Questions were raised in the following areas: Why did all the money go to one project? Why are the operational expenses so high (30% of fund) given only one project? When is the original $11,025,000 repayable? Who will be responsible for repayments to the immigrants?
4. Quality of Life Indicators
   The City of Whitehorse provided council with the Canadian Federation of Municipalities Quality of Life Indicators. The City of Whitehorse will make a presentation to Council at a later date.
5. National Round Table on the Economy and the Environment
   Council decided not to attend the NRTEE meeting on June 19th, 2002 in Ottawa as the costs associated with sending a member for a one day meeting is very expensive. Council discussed the idea of bringing a speaker and a NRTEE member to Whitehorse in the fall for a public forum on the Economy and the Environment.
6. Focus on the Future - Building Sustainable Communities
   Council hasn't received a response from the premier in regards to completing a limited follow-up report to the 1999 document. Council decided that the follow-up report would consist of re-addressing the case studies contained in the report to gauge the status of those businesses and identify any lessons learned from their success or failure. It was decided that the budget for this project will be $4000.00.
7. Correspondence

Department of Finance staff provided an update on the status of the Royalty/Permanent Fund. Community consultations will take place over the summer on how to use and manage the Permanent Fund. The premier has invited the YCEE to comment on the fund and the capital budget for 2003-4.

Staff from the departments of Finance, Health and Social Services and Environment presented the council with a draft of the Yukon Sustainable Progress Indicators. YCEE provided comments and recommendations on the indicators. Specific suggestions included:

• Use indicators where there is current data as old data is less relevant
• Attempt to show trends as opposed to snapshots
• Where possible and relevant, compare how Yukon is doing compared to rest of Canada

Chair of the Moose Harvest Management Review presented an overview of the review process to council. The working group's recommendations will be presented to the Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management Board for consideration in June.

Staff from the department of Finance presented an overview of the Yukon Government's Accountability Act. Council reviewed a documented entitled "Changing Corporate Culture" - An Accountability Framework - An Opportunity to Demonstrate Results. The Accountability Act recently passed in the legislature. (May 2002) Accountability plans will be attached to the O&M budgets and will outline the primary activities of each department from year to year. Sustainable Progress Indicators should be linked to accountability plans to measure results, performance and priorities for departments. YCEE is encouraged to review and comment on the Departments of Environment, Business, Tourism and Culture, Energy Mines and Resources, and Finance accountability plans. Comments should be provided to the government in the summer or fall (at the latest) in order for the input to be incorporated into the planning process.

The council discussed the Yukon Conservation Strategy Revision, the Yukon Conservation Strategy Annual Review (1998-2001) and their relationship to the sustainable development strategy mentioned in the 2002-2003 Department of Environment Accountability Plan. Linkage of the Sustainable Progress Indicators to the Department 's Accountability Plan, the YPAS Process, State of the Environment Report and the idea of a Sustainable Development Strategy were also discussed.

With respect to YPAS, the Minister noted that government resources have been stretched regarding the 4 Land Claim Settlement MOU's. YPAS process will slow down in 2002/2003. There is currently no plan to get all the parties back to the table. Frustration was expressed with respect to the polarization and the lack of good dialogue.

With respect to a Sustainable Development Strategy, it was noted the government has an interest to developing terms of reference that tie into devolution process. The Government is considering creating a working group to move this project forward.

With respect to the State of the Environment Report, questions were raised regarding its intent or purpose. Council noted the importance of reports being developed in a way that allows them to be used as tools for decision makers.

Council reviewed the draft term report and made revisions.

The chair had asked each member to check with his or her constituencies for issues/concerns that could be brought to YCEE.

Yukon Federation of Labour: None to bring up at YCEE.

Yukon Chamber of Mines: YPAS and DAP are Yukon Chamber of Mines (YCM) concerns but they each have separate processes. A possible issue for YCEE to consider is the Access Corridor Study. This should be completed prior to protected areas being established. Another issue that the YCM is working on is the permitting system.

Yukon Chamber of Commerce: Will provide for next meeting.

Ralph Nordling (member at large): In the Dawson City area, concerns are the Yukon Placer Authorization review, and funding for arts, the building of the Dawson City recreation center. Yukon Status of Women Council: Would like YCEE to look at gender impact analysis within economic development.

Yukon Conservation Society: Focusing on Yukon Placer Authorization review, YPAS, oil/gas, forestry, climate change - all issues tied between the economy and environment. It was noted that YCS has played an active role in working towards sustainable development in the Yukon forest industry.

The Council reviewed and refined their operating procedures.

It was noted that the Council has a desire for alternates to attend YCEE meetings if members are unavailable.

The next two YCEE meetings will be:

• August 23/24 in Watson Lake
• October 4/5 in Whitehorse

August 23/24 YCEE meeting in Watson Lake to focus on forestry. Panel of speakers will include; Federal and Yukon government's, Kaska First Nation, Yukon Forest Industry and Yukon Conservation Society. Public forum will be held on Friday evening.

It was noted that CYFN member Roger Alfred will not be attending the August meeting. It is council's hopes that a delegate from CYFN will attend the August meeting as a guest. Peter Stone was discussed a possible alternate.

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James Grattan, Chair