Chilkat Valley News - Serving Haines and Klukwan, Alaska since 1966

The Haines Ports and Harbors Advisory Committee (PHAC) recently met without adequate public notice. The Haines Chamber of Commerce orchestrated part of the meeting that included seven members representing Yukon mining interests. The Joint Transportation and Infrastructure Committee of Yukon met with the PHAC to promote use of Lutak Dock for mineral ore transport. In violation of the Public Meetings Act, this topic was not noticed to the public.

Our community has already weighed in on ore transport at Lutak Dock and resoundingly responded with a “No.” Unfortunately, some public testimony was not received well by the chair. The PHAC chair invoked an image of a faltering economy with the health of families and our children at stake. “ . . . I’d be interested to know what organizations like LCC are gonna do about it; my guess is nothing,” he said.

This language is designed to divide our community and is not appropriate. More harmful, his language has a chilling effect on healthy public discourse.

The divisive attitude expressed by the PHAC chair, as well as the lack of transparency, is not healthy for our community or the democratic process.

Dana Hallett