Roundtable 2
Summary
The Government of Yukon convened the second roundtable for wetland policy development on June 19, 2019. Attendees included representatives from First Nations, federal government, and municipalities as well as representatives from relevant industry organisations, boards, councils, environmental non-governmental organizations, and Government of Yukon departments.
The agenda for the second roundtable was based on requests made by partners at or following the first roundtable. Generally, requests were to provide:
- Further process clarity in the form of a draft terms of reference;
- More supporting information on key topics (wetland functions, development practices, First Nations rights and traditional use);
- A draft policy outline as a starting point for discussion.
Draft Terms of Reference
A draft terms of reference was presented and discussed, with several changes and additions noted.
Supporting Information
There were four presentations to provide information that may inform future discussions on policy elements: wetland functions in permafrost zones (Ducks Unlimited), Indigenous rights and values (Champagne and Aishihik First Nations), and current industry practices for mining and forestry (Chamber of Mines and Wood Products Association). Based on these presentations, partners indicated that the policy will need to provide vision for the future and management clarity, consider matters such as climate change, and include diverse knowledge from scientific, traditional and local sources.
Draft Policy Outline
As requested in the first roundtable meeting, a draft policy outline developed by volunteers from nine organisations was provided to support discussions about policy contents. The draft outline included sections on:
- Policy statement
- Policy scope
- Indigenous context for wetland management
- Background/context
- Definitions/glossary
- Governance structure
- Policy actions
- Implementation
- Policy review
Partners provided feedback on what they liked and what they would prefer to see changed or added. This evolving draft outline will continue to inform further policy work at future roundtables.
Action Items
The following items were requested to be completed for the third roundtable meeting:
- Please provide any further feedback on the revised draft terms of reference (posted soon).
- Complete a draft background and context section for the policy. (see Background drafting group)
- Complete a description of the current Government of Yukon governance structure for management of wetlands, including legislation.
Roundtable Report
Read the summary report of roundtable 2. (PDF 800K)