Federal Court - Christian Aboriginal Infrastructure Developments ...

Page: 127
[508] SYFC had announced that it would lay off its employees as of June 30, 2000. I find that it is
no coincidence that DIAND approached Timberline in July to attempt to find solutions to the longterm
timber supply, since the closure of the largest private employer in southeast Yukon was surely
a serious matter.
[509] On August 8 th , Ms. Clark wrote to Mr. Beaubier in Ottawa, reporting upon the
2010 FC 495 (CanLII)
circumstances that led to the closure of the mill. The mill closed due to a lack of wood. She advised
that investors were not willing to advance further money without long-term tenure or sufficient
short-term supply of wood. This letter is Exhibit P-79, Tab 312.
[510] On August 9, 2000, Mr. Kennedy sent an email to Ms. Guscott, again addressing forest
management planning and noting that the Timberline Report #2 had been received.
[511] Mr. Kennedy had participated in the workshop in Edmonton. In his email he stated that there
were “[s]ome major number changes once we removed some hidden constraints to management that
were in previous.”
[512] The official opposition in the Yukon Legislative Assembly wrote to Prime Minister Chretien
on August 23 rd , requesting an inquiry into the management of the Yukon forest resources by
DIAND. The letter noted that “[t]he department, under three successive Ministers, has failed to
honour the commitments made by Minister Irwin…” The official opposition asserted that the
closure of the SYFC mill was a direct result of the failure to “ensure long-term access to timber”.