Yukoners deserve more than Ottawa, yet alone Paris, lecturing us on the realities of climate change; we simply need to look out our windows and talk to those who have come before us to recognize the changes affecting our territory. For anyone who has lived here long enough, it is very obvious that our world is changing and that we must find ways to adapt and innovate with a sense of urgency.
However, we live in a part of the world where we need to heat our homes for more than half the year simply in order to survive the elements, and almost every single necessity we consume is trucked or flown in. This means that hydrocarbon-derived energy is going to play a major role in the lives of Yukoners for years to come. With the rising cost of living, I do not believe charging Yukoners more to heat their homes or feed their families will reduce anything, beyond our bank balances and the compromises we then have to make on behalf of our way of life at the end of the month.
Over the last two winters, there were occasions where Yukon Energy was within hours of running out of diesel to keep the lights on in the territory, and as our population continues to grow, new construction prioritizes electric heating and electric vehicles and bicycles gain popularity, the path we are on is unsustainable.
So, what can a Yukoner do to meaningfully “do our part?”
I believe that the single most effective action we can take is to develop additional green energy (hydro-electric) capacity in partnership with Yukon First Nations and other levels of government.
I submitted this idea to the Conservative Party of Canada and my commitment to green energy for Yukoners made it into their platform . . . sort of. The party’s northern infrastructure plan includes “a large-scale project to provide clean power to the Yukon, developed in partnership with the Government of the Yukon,” however the Ottawa-knows-best platform authors did not listen to Yukoners and therefore, did not get it quite right.
First of all, a “large-scale” project would be very difficult to garner the needed public support required, due to the environmental impacts on nearby communities and Yukon First Nations’ traditional territories. Instead, I believe we need to pursue smaller, scalable sites that have the potential for future added capacity as our territory and power needs continue to grow. Thankfully and feasibly, such sites exist in the Yukon.
More importantly, the Conservative Party platform glaringly omits the essential role of Yukon First Nations governments in the investment, approval and ultimate development of such a project. Yukon First Nations governments are constitutionally recognized and an essential part of the decision-making process, and must be included from the very beginning of a project and throughout a project’s life. It is disappointing that the Conservative Party overlooks this constitutional and societal partnership.
Another potential opportunity, in conjunction with new-hydro site development or as a stand-alone alternative, would be to pursue a longer planning horizon power-grid inter-tie with a neighbouring jurisdiction; such as British Columbia or Alaska (or both, together to the benefit of all our jurisdictions with the Yukon as the centre of this approach). Such a multi-party initiative would be truly nation-building and bring our entire northern community closer together. A visionary approach, which requires relationship building and a lens on behalf of the territory to benefit our children and their children.
To ensure success for a true green energy reality for the Yukon, I envision a collaboration which would include investment from all orders of government, with opportunities for the private sector as well; a collaboration in which Yukon First Nations governments can financially and therefore socially benefit from their partnership on behalf of their citizens. A reality in which all Yukoners can have access to clean, affordable power for generations to come and do their part for the environment.
And while I believe this to be the most significant step we can take together to reduce our emissions, I will also advocate to support additional alternative energy solutions such as biomass, solar and wind, local food production, energy upgrades and retrofits for existing buildings and incentives for new construction, among many others. For example, I will advocate for timber harvesting agreements (THAs), which allow biomass fuels – and household timber fuels – to be supplied right here at home; versus being trucked up the highway from BC and Alberta, further contributing to GHG emissions. I will continually and tirelessly advocate for local opportunities and therefore jobs and further partnerships with Yukon First Nations and local businesses in everything I do. Our children, and our children’s children, deserve it.