Government of Yukon
News archives
FOR RELEASE #05-104
April 21, 2005
Oil And Gas Symposium On Best Management Practices
WHITEHORSE - An oil and gas symposium on best management practices is being hosted by the Yukon government April 25-27 in Whitehorse. It will showcase existing, new and innovative ideas and research that reduce the footprint on northern landscapes.
"We are slowly nurturing and developing this sector," Energy, Mines and Resources Minister Archie Lang said. "A big part of our focus is striving for a balance between conservation and development interests. The symposium will offer us support and advice on what works and what doesn't."
A cross-section of representatives from Alaska, Yukon, Northwest Territories, British Columbia and Alberta will take part in the symposium. It includes participants from universities, government at all levels, co-management and management boards, private consultants, First Nations, practitioners, industry and other interested parties.
"The Yukon government's vision includes a viable oil and gas industry with a commitment to biodiversity, to best management tools, and to integrated resource management," Lang said. "It also includes the recognition that the people of the Yukon have a strong traditional, cultural and social attachment to the land. To work successfully here, industry will need to understand these values."
The Department of Energy, Mines and Resources is developing Best Management Practices to guide development. The model will minimize impacts through the consideration of traditional, ecological and cultural values. Discussions and presentations at the symposium will advance that progress, both to create a healthy working environment for industry, and to better understand the environment in which we live.
Bob McDonald, well known CBC radio host of the science program "Quirks and Quarks", will give a free public talk to kick off the symposium. The theme of his talk is "State of Mind, State of Planet." It is April 25 at 7 p.m. in the Yukon Arts Centre.
The symposium is sponsored by Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, ConocoPhillips, Devon Canada, Enbridge Inc, Environment Canada, Hunt Oil, Mining and Petroleum Environmental Research Group, Yukon government and Yukon Science Institute.
For more information on the symposium visit www.yukonoilandgas.com and follow the links.
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| Contact: | |
| Peter Carr | Laurie Sthamann |
| Cabinet Communications Advisor | Energy, Mines and Resources |
| (867) 667-8688 | (867) 667-3163 |
| peter.carr@gov.yk.ca | laurie.sthamann@gov.yk.ca |