Fentie promises action on controversial lodge

Yukon Premier Dennis Fentie is defending his government's approach toa lodge built in the backcountry over the summer.

The lodge was built by Bonnet Plume Outfitters, a hunting company owned by Chris and Sharron McKinnon, which has the concession for the area.

Fentie told the legislature Thursdaythe government is waiting for the owners to provide documents proving they had the rightto build the lodge on the banks of the Bonnet Plume River in central Yukon.

"We are gathering all the available information, documentation, and once done, and if the outfitter cannot prove legal standing on this area, we will be seeking a court order for the outfitter to vacate," Fentie said.

When contacted at his Alberta home Thursday, McKinnon told CBC News the government gave himverbal permission to build the lodge but later withdrew its support.

The local First Nation said it was never contacted about plans to build a lodge, even though the site isin its traditional area and on the banks of a Canadian Heritage River.

Meanwhile, the outfitter is also under fire from a mineralexploration companybased at the same remote location.

Fronteer Group'sRick Valentaclaims theoutfitting company destroyedits drill samples and used the drill cores to build a sidewalk.

"It's something that would have been very useful for us and for other people, other researchers, looking at the geology of the area," Valenta said.

"It's an expensive source of information that's been lost forever, needlessly."

Valenta says the loss to the company is about $6million.

"We are waiting to see what action the government takes and accept that they have to operate according to their own agendas and timeframe," he said.

Fentie did not say when the government expects to hear from the outfitting companyor whether it has been givena deadline.