Yukon's Kaska unhappy after meeting with premier

Yukons Kaska leaders came away from a meeting with the premier last Friday, unhappy.

Darrell Pasloski invited the Kaska chiefs to discuss controversial changes to the oil and gas act, after the Kaska nations threatened to sue if the government removed its veto powers over development.

But the meeting didnt meet the expectations of some Kaska chiefs.

Pasloski told them his government will pass amendments, removing Kaska veto rights over oil and gas development on their lands.

That's not what Liard First Nation chief Liard McMillan wanted to hear.

"I don't think our people will stand for it," he said. "As I told the premier today, he's standing on a slippery slope in terms of the path forward. As an investor, I'd be extremely concerned about putting my money in the Yukon."

Brian Ladue, the new chief of the Ross River Dena Council, is vowing to fight oil and gas development tooth and nail.

"Were not going to stand idly by while our land gets pillaged and destroyed," Ladue said.

Pasloski is holding firm to the principle that resources belong to all Yukoners.

He says development would bring much needed jobs for the Kaska as well, and says he'll continue to seek an economic development agreement with them.