B.C.’s Minister of Lands, Water and Natural Resources, Randene Neill, is touring Northwest B.C. to consult with Indigenous nations and local communities on future land use planning. The tour began June 24 and follows a route from Whitehorse through Atlin, Watson Lake, Dease Lake, New Aiyansh, and Meziadin Lake, ending in Terrace.
The province aims to deliver comprehensive land use plans within 12 months for the territories of the Tahltan, Taku River Tlingit, Kaska, Gitanyow, and the Meziadin area. Neill says the goal is to provide clarity on where to develop and where to conserve, with local values guiding decisions. She acknowledged overlapping Indigenous territories may lead to complex negotiations, but says the work will begin with areas of consensus.
The initiative is part of B.C.’s broader strategy to create land use plans that balance environmental protection, economic opportunity, and Indigenous rights, all under the lens of reconciliation. Industry and community partners are also involved in the process.
To support this effort, an Environment and Land Use Act order came into effect on June 3, placing a one-year pause on new mining tenures in the region while planning continues.
Neill praised both the landscape and local hospitality throughout the tour.
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