Toronto

Kill the Bill! No to Bill 191 - The Far North Act

9:00am
Wednesday September 15 2010

Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN), a political territorial organization in Northern Ontario, is requesting your attendance at a rally taking place on September 15 and 16, 2010 at Queen’s Park opposing the Ontario Government’s proposed Bill 191 – The Far North Act. 

In August 2010, NAN’s 49 Chiefs-in-Assembly voted unanimously to oppose Bill 191 and call for its immediate withdrawal because it does not respect Aboriginal and Treaty rights, nor does it respect the inherent rights of Aboriginal peoples.  NAN Chiefs declared that proper consultation, accommodation and consent are required with First Nations in any and all developments pertaining to their homelands.  Bill 191 poses a major threat to the economic stability of the Far North.  It limits access to resource development and exploration in an area that spans 225,000 square kilometres (21% of the surface of Ontario), which is a major concern not just to First Nations but to all Ontarians living in the North or relying some-way on the North.

Bill 191 has passed First Reading, Second Reading and is now scheduled for Third Reading in the Ontario Legislature on September 16, 2010.  We as First Nations people and Ontarians as a whole must stop the McGuinty Government in imposing this harmful Bill for the North. 

Please come and join us September 15 and 16, 2010 at Queen’s Park in Toronto Ontario.   We must take a strong stand in order to ‘Kill the Bill’! WE NEED THE SUPPORT OF EVERYONE.

BACKGROUNDER    

Friday August 13, 2010                                                  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE           

BILL 191 (FAR NORTH ACT)

• Since April 2007, NAN has participated in discussions with Ontario regarding land-use planning and mining, including changes to Ontario’s Mining Act, through Oski-Machiitawin (OM) process, (formerly called the Northern Table).

• Despite discussions around land-use planning and other issues related to NAN homelands, Ontario unilaterally announced its intention to protect 225,000 sq. km. of boreal forest in NAN First Nation territory and introduced Bill 191 (the Far North Act) in the Ontario Legislature on June 2, 2009.

• NAN First Nations have not been thoroughly consulted on Bill 191.  The Canadian Constitution Act (Section 35) guarantees First Nations the right to be consulted and accommodated on matters that impact them or their lands and resources.

• On July 6, 2009, the NAN Chiefs-in-Assembly passed a resolution condemning Bill 191 and since then, have passed several resolutions strengthening and supporting it.  NAN Chiefs have many concerns regarding Bill 191 including, but not limited to:

-NAN First Nations will be split between North and South and there will be Ontario Government control over the Land Use Planning process;

-provides a protected area of at least 225,000 sq. km. which is inconsistent with Treaty No. 9 and Treaty No. 5 and the long-term economic development prospects of NAN;

-violates the Aboriginal and Treaty rights of all NAN First Nations, including the inherent right of self-government.

• The Far North Advisory Council estimated that 100 million dollars is necessary to develop and implement First Nation land-use plans.  Currently, less than 5 million dollars has been set-aside for First Nation land-use plans in the Far North.  33 NAN First Nations are directly impacted by the land-use planning process.

• NAN First Nations are not opposed to development on their homelands however, they need to decide what should be protected and what should be developed as they have for thousands of years.

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For more information please contact Amy Harris, Media Relations Officer – Nishnawbe Aski Nation (807) 625 4906 or (807) 252-2806 mobile or by email aharris@nan.on.ca.