Day 4: A Strong Stand by First Nations

After stops in Toronto, Sioux Lookout and Thunder Bay, the Ontario government’s hearings on the Far North and Mining Modernization Acts (Bills 173 and 191) arrived in Chapleau today for the fourth of its five days. Attendance in Chapleau was good, despite the community’s remote location. Attendees at this session represented prospecting interests, conservation groups and First Nations.

Chapleau was also, today, the location of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation’s (NAN) summer assembly. This scheduling conflict was raised by NAN leaders in the first of these hearings, and it was expected that NAN would not be sending many representatives to the hearing as a result. This made the mid-afternoon arrival of NAN’s Frank Beardy and about thirty other NAN members quite a surprise.

Beardy, who is NAN’s lead negotiator, asked that, given the difficulty for his delegation to get to the hearing because of the scheduling conflict, they be given more than the standard fifteen minutes to present to the government’s Standing Committee. The NDP’s Gilles Bisson – a committee member – urged the committee to allow the extra time for NAN, and after conservation group ForestEthics offered to give up their allotted time, the committee agreed.

Beardy was very critical of the Standing Committee’s decision to hold this hearings this week when it knew that NAN was holding its summer assembly. He indicated that that his presence did not indicate that the Province has consulted First Nations on Bill 191.

Beardy opened his official remarks by reiterating that Premier McGuinty’s 2008 announcement of this Act indicated that there would be a “new relationship” and a “true partnership” between the Province of Ontario and First Nations that would “put First Nations in the driving seat” when it comes to land-use planning. Beardy suggested that, because the level of First Nations involvement in regional planning is at the Minister of Natural Resources’ discretion, Bill 191 fails to deliver on this promise. Beardy said that “The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) changed it from First Nations-led to MNR-controlled” and then pleaded to the committee to let First Nations “lead in the spirit of cooperation and respect.”

That position was reinforced by several NAN chiefs, and supported by the thirty community members – elders and youth – who filled the meeting hall. All of whom were opposed the Far North Act in its current incarnation. The Standing Committee was clearly affected by the dismay of the NAN representatives. They had heard of First Nations concerns on each of the first three days, but had yet to hear from such a large group,

This clearly signals that Bill 191 must be amended to formalise First Nations leadership in Far North planning. According to the Far North Advisory Council, the best way to accomplish this is with the creation of an independent board, with equal representation from the Province and First Nations to oversee planning in the region. This board has also been requested by NAN, has been adopted in other regions of Canada engaged in land use planning. The create of such a planning board could go a long way to alleviating concerns about the Far North initiative being controlled by the Minister of Natural Resources.

Whether the Standing Committee decides to address the issues that have been raised all week – and especially today – remains to be seen. We will be in Timmins tomorrow at the final hearing, and will have a full report.