Federal Court - Christian Aboriginal Infrastructure Developments ...

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[42] Mr. Sewell provided general background information about the operations of the Regional
Office in Whitehorse, as well as evidence about the practice in the public service as to participation
in the drafting of replies by the Minster to correspondence and inquiries received concerning
matters arising in the region, that is, in the Yukon Territory.
[43] Mr. Sewell was the most senior public servant in the region. He was responsible for the
2010 FC 495 (CanLII)
overall management of the Regional Office which was staffed at the time by about 400 people,
some of whom worked on a seasonal basis.
[44] DIAND was responsible for the management of natural resources in the Yukon Territory.
According to Mr. Sewell, the responsibilities of the Regional Office included regulation of the
water, mineral and timber resources.
[45] As well, the Regional Office was mandated to work with First Nations. He said that the
office worked with seventeen First Nations, that is fourteen in Yukon and three in British Columbia.
[46] In addition to regulation of natural resources and responsibility for First Nations, Mr. Sewell
testified that the Department was responsible for economic development in the area.
[47] Mr. Sewell provided an organizational chart for the “chain of command” in the Regional
Office. This document was entered on consent as Exhibit P-1. This shows that the RDG reported to
the Deputy Minister (the “DM”) of the Department. The chart also shows that the Director of