Ahead of candidates forum, CYFN gathers answers from parties

The Council of Yukon First Nations has published responsesto five questions it sent to the four territorial parties in the upcoming election, ahead of its candidates forum on Thursday.

CYFNGrand Chief Peter Johnston said the council will not be endorsing one party, but itdistributed a questionnaire to all territorial parties earlier this monthwith questions relating to the parties' relationship with First Nations.

Here is one of the questions the CYFN posed, and theresponses:

In the event that there is a difference of opinion between the...parties regarding the interpretation and implementation of the Yukon First Nation Final Agreements, how would you propose to resolve such issues without resorting to litigation?

'We may not always see eye-to-eye,' says Liberal Party

"We may not always see eye-to-eye on the interpretation and preferred approach to implementing our Final Agreements," starts the Liberal Party's response.

But Sandy Silver said he does not believe litigation is the way to resolve issues that arise.

"We should not be using Yukoners' finances to take our own people to court. Litigation may answer a question, but in the process it does not resolve our broader challenges it exacerbates them."

The Liberal Party said the key to resolving issues is respect for differing opinions.

"We do not believe that partisanship is the way forward either. No party has a monopoly on good ideas and in the event that we diverge on issues, we will bring them to the table to find common ground and shared solutions."

The Liberals say implementation of the Umbrella Final Agreement is an ongoing process.

"Litigation though, is not the answer, which is why our government will drop its challenges to our First Nations and work to resolve issues, respect process, and respect people."

'We can always meet one-on-one,' says Yukon Party

In its response, the Yukon Party, led by Darrell Pasloski, stressed the need to have "less formal" meetings "where we can roll up our sleeves and make progress."

"We can always meet one-on-one, as leaders. There are times that sitting down directly with one chief can help our governments resolve issues that don't necessarily apply outside specific communities," the response says.

Pasloski said over the past five years, he's met with individual chiefs and found common ground on issues that officials haven't been able to resolve, but he admitted it won't always go smoothly.

"One thing I will not say here or in the upcoming forum is that we will always agree and that I will meet every expectation.

"Any leader who says that either doesn't understand the job of premier or is willing to say anything to win your support. And I can tell you that making promises you can't fulfill does more to damage relationships, long term, than almost anything else a government does or does not do."

'Let's talk,' says NDP

"Let's talk. Let's focus on our common interests and let's be willing to talk some more," say the New Democrats, led by Liz Hanson, in their response to the Council of Yukon First Nations.

The party says territorial andfederal governments and Yukon First Nations need to continue working together.

"Good governance can take time and mutual commitment. Elders can help counsel us all."

Like the other parties, the NDP say they'd avoid the courtroom.

"Costly court battles are an admission of defeat in our respective leadership. Our Yukon Government needs to honour and respect Aboriginal rights and titles and our collectively negotiated Yukon Final and Self-Government Agreements, and work hard to uphold the honour of the Crown to live up to the spirit and intent of the agreements."

'Consensus and cooperation,' say Greens

Frank De Jong's Green Party says the agreements in place "provide for a comprehensive dispute resolution process which includes mediation,arbitration and, as a last resort, a judicial review of an arbitrator's decision."

"Greens believe in obtaining decisions by consensus and cooperation, not by confrontation and endless legal actions to try to negate signed agreements and undertakings.

"By using the processes already agreed upon, disputes should be resolved without recourse to expensive legal battles."

The Council of Yukon First Nations' candidates forum takes placeThursdayfrom 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Kwanlin Dn Cultural Centre.This event is open to the public.