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Summary

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Aboriginal law — Treaties and agreements — Construction and interpretation — What is the appropriate remedy when the Crown breaches its obligation in respect of a joint process established under a modern treaty — What is the template for land use planning throughout Yukon under all of the First Agreements signed by Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, the Government of Yukon, and Yukon First Nations — What is the appropriate remedy in respect of quashing flawed decisions in commission proceedings

The Nacho Nyak Dun, Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in and Vuntut Gwitchin have traditional territory in the Peel Watershed, which covers approximately 68,000 square kilometers representing 14% of the Yukon. On May 29, 1993, Canada, Yukon and the Yukon First Nations, represented by the Council for Yukon Indians, entered into an Umbrella Final Agreement (“UFA”). Its terms were incorporated into the Final Agreements of Canada and Yukon with various First Nations including Nacho Nyak Dun, Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in and Vuntut Gwitchin. The terms established a consultative and collaborative process for the development of land use plans in various regions, including the Peel Watershed. The process required an independent planning Commission to create an initial Recommended Plan, and Yukon to consult on that plan before approving, rejecting or proposing modifications to it (s. 11.6.2). The Commission was then required to reconsider the plan and propose a Final Recommended Plan, followed by another obligation on Yukon to consult on that plan before final approval, rejection, or modification of it (s. 11.6.3.2).

In this case that process began for the Peel Watershed in 2004 and led to the creation of the Recommended Plan in late 2009. The process broke down in 2012 when Yukon changed the plan over the objections of the First Nations, who took the position that Yukon did not have the authority under the Final Agreements to make the changes it had made. The Government of Yukon had provided very general suggestions at the s. 11.6.2 stage, and then proposed its own plan at the s. 11.6.3.2 stage. The Nacho Nyak Dun, Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in and others commenced an action against Yukon. The trial judge held that Yukon had breached the Final Agreements when it changed the land use plan for the Peel Watershed. The judge quashed Yukon’s final land use plan and ordered that the process be remitted to the point in time at which Yukon came to engage in final consultation with the First Nations. The Court of Appeal upheld the trial judge’s order quashing the Government Plan. However, the Court of Appeal ordered that the matter be remitted to the point at which Yukon had received the Recommended Plan.

Lower Court Rulings