Yukon’s assessment process: A guide for miners

Picture this: a small exploration company is planning to extend an access road near Mayo in the Yukon. It’s a relatively minor addition, just a few kilometres of gravel to reach a new target area.

On paper, it looks simple. But on the ground, it’s anything but. The proposed route crosses traditional harvesting areas, runs along a key wildlife corridor, and cuts through land identified in a regional land use plan.

In Yukon, this kind of scenario isn’t uncommon. What starts as a straightforward proposal can quickly reveal deeper questions about land, wildlife and Indigenous rights.

With the majority of assessments linked to mineral exploration or development, the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board (Yesab) plays a central role in the territory’s resource economy. For mining companies, the process may seem complex, overly procedural or like an extra layer of red tape. But the board is designed to offer what industry and all Yukoners value most: clarity, timeliness and transparency.

Two decades

Yukon is ecologically diverse, politically distinct, and resource-rich. Balancing timely project assessments with strong environmental and socio-economic protections, and the protection of Indigenous rights, has always posed a challenge. Yesab has been meeting this challenge for two decades.

Since its inception, the board has issued recommendations for over 3,700 projects, from laneway extensions to complex resource developments, reflecting the wide range of activities that fall under assessment.

 

What’s Yesab?

The board is not a regulator. It doesn’t issue permits, enforce compliance, or consult on behalf of governments. Instead, it provides an independent, neutral assessment of the potential environmental and socio-economic effects of proposed projects. Its recommendations help decision bodies (Yukon First Nations, the government of Yukon or the government of Canada) determine if, and how, a project should proceed.

Yesab doesn’t make final decisions, but its transparent, evidence-based process carries significant weight. For industry, this clarity supports better project design, fewer delays and stronger social licence. To understand Yesab is to understand Yukon, a territory where development decisions are shaped by land claims and traditional knowledge.

Need an assessment?

One of the first questions any company should ask when planning a Yukon project is: Do we need a Yesab assessment? If your project is new and requires a permit or land authorization, the answer is likely yes.

Under law, a project must be assessed if it’s located in Yukon, involves an activity listed in regulations, and needs government approval to proceed. That includes most exploration and development work, whether led by private industry, governments, or Crown agencies.

Unsure if your project qualifies? It’s worth checking early. The government of Yukon’s Permit and Authorization Guide, along with advice from regulators and board staff, can help clarify requirements and avoid costly delays down the road.

 

The process

For mining proponents, especially those used to regulatory systems elsewhere in Canada, entering Yukon’s assessment regime can require a mental shift. Projects are assessed not just for their environmental impact, but also for their socio-economic effects: on communities, First Nations, and public.

There are three levels of assessment:

• Designated Office Evaluations, for most exploration and mid-size projects
• Executive Committee Screenings, for larger or more complex developments; and
• Panel Reviews, for projects that may cause significant adverse effects or are particularly controversial.

At each stage, public input is not just encouraged, it is required. The process brings together knowledge systems that don’t typically intersect: Western science, Indigenous traditional knowledge and Western worldviews.

First Nations are active participants. Many do their own engagement, submit detailed assessments, and rightfully expect their perspectives to shape projects from the outset. Proponents who get that and build it into their plans early tend to move through the process more successfully.

Keys to success

Navigating the board’s assessment process effectively requires as much focus on relationships and respect as it does on project design. Proponents are encouraged to engage early, and meaningfully, with local communities, First Nations governments and regulatory bodies. These relationships aren’t just about checking boxes; they lay the groundwork for trust and collaboration throughout the life of a project.

Entering the process with a clear, well-justified proposal that reflects local knowledge can help avoid delays. It’s equally important to approach the process with openness. Yesab’s recommendations may prompt project changes, but these adjustments typically aim to balance outcomes for Yukon’s environment, people and future generations. Flexibility, transparency and a willingness to learn go a long way toward building credibility.

As the Yukon’s mining sector looks ahead to new or renewed developments and growing international interest, assessment will remain a critical part of this journey. Understanding YESAB won’t just help get shovels in the ground, it will help ensure projects are grounded in the values that matter most to this territory and supported by its people.

Kent Bretzlaff is the Executive Director of Yukon’s Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board. Read more about the assessment process at www.yesab.ca.