A proposed land use plan for a expansive area in central Yukon outlines detailed recommendations for future development across roughly 10 percent of the territory’s land mass.
Plan Overview
The Dawson Regional Planning Commission has released its 480-page recommended plan, developed over several years. This plan fulfills requirements under Chapter 11 of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Final Agreement and emphasizes co-management between Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in and the Yukon government.
The plan states: “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.”
Landscape Management Units
The 39,854-square-kilometre region divides into 22 landscape management units, each with tailored guidelines on permitted activities. Certain units designate as conservation zones, prohibiting industrial development or exploration. Others support potential mining operations or tourism initiatives.
The plan excludes lands within Dawson city limits and existing protected areas, such as Tombstone Territorial Park.
Mining Recommendations
Placer mining, a key economic driver, receives approval in select areas. The plan calls for streamlined, transparent permitting processes and collaboration with local miners and communities to shape placer mining’s future.
Quartz or hard rock mining deems incompatible under the current regulatory framework, citing outdated territorial legislation unable to address associated risks. No active hard rock mines operate in the region currently.
A specific prohibition targets heap-leach mining under existing regulations. This follows a 2024 incident at Victoria Gold’s Eagle mine near Mayo, where a heap leach failure released toxic cyanide, leading to closure and ongoing remediation.
The Yukon government actively updates its century-old mining laws.
Development and Next Steps
Established in 2018 as an independent body, the six-member commission issued a draft in 2022. Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in and the Yukon government now review the recommendations, consulting affected communities before deciding to accept, reject, or amend them.
Upon adoption, this becomes the territory’s third regional land use plan, following North Yukon in 2009 and Peel Watershed in 2019. The Peel plan resolved a prolonged legal dispute after Canada’s Supreme Court ruled the Yukon government breached treaty obligations by overriding recommendations for 80 percent protection.
