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MARCH 2nd, 2008 THERE WILL BE A COMMUNITY MEETING |
IN THIS ISSUE: |
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1)
TVO BLOG FOR URANIUM PROTEST 1) TVO BLOG FOR URANIUM PROTEST One of our
Uranium News readers has set up a TVO blog for us on The Agenda website.
(Thanks Peter!) The blog is used to suggest stories for the show to cover.
Please click on the link below to add your comments and hopefully they
will consider covering our protest. You will need to set-up a TVO blogging
account but this is a simple process. Just follow the instructions.
2)
CCAMU LINKED TO NUCLEAR-FREE.COM Happy Birthday to Robert Lovelace!" Best, Ainslie 3) NEW ACTION: CALL THE POLLUTION HOTLINE! Please call the Ministry of the Environment about the potential uranium mine affecting our community. The Ministry
of the Environment has a Pollution Hotline we could put to the test: You can
quote David Salisbury, Ottawa's chief medical officer of health, who told
CBC News that he feels that a mine in Sharbot Lake could pose a health
risk in Ottawa.
4) INFO UPDATE: PETERBOROUGH PROTEST FOR BOB LOVELACE Date: Saturday,
March 8, 2008 5) ACTION UPDATE: CALL MCGUINTY TO FREE BOB CAMPAIGN This letter is in regard to the "Call Premier McGuinty to Free Bob Lovelace" campaign. "I just made phone calls to both the numbers listed below and spoke to a real person. You may already know this, but the constituency office only deals with people who live in Ottawa South, i.e. his constituents, I was told. The other number also got me a real person and the only thing I was able really to accomplish was to be transferred to 416-325-3777, which is the office that traces letters sent to the Premier that have not been responded to. They said they would put a tracer on my letters (of course I couldn't remember the exact dates I've written) and call me back. They said they cannot take telephone information about the mining issue--must be in letter or email. However, if all of us who have received no reply to the letters we send call the 3777 number (apparently you can call collect) and ask to have their letters traced that should keep them busy. Thanks, Susan Dalton McGuinty's
contact info: Editor's Note: Interesting that they say they don't take telephone information about the mining issue. Suggested response- "McGuinty is my elected Premier. Our community has a serious concern and he was elected to deal with it. If you have been told that you can't record my concern, then I would appreciate speaking to the Premier personally. It is my democratic right to voice my concern."
6) NO URANIUM MINING: NEW BRUNSWICK PETITION Petition to Stop Uranium Mining in New Brunswick Please take a moment to sign their petition and show your solidarity. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/stop-uranium-mining-in-new-brunswick 7) PRESS RELEASE: THE FEDERATION OF ONTARIO COTTAGERS ASSOCIATIONS February 29, 2008 Northern Development & Mines not proceeding with Surface Rights amendments to the Mining Act The Federation of Ontario Cottagers' Associations, a long standing participant on the Minister's Mining Act Advisory Committee (MMAAC), has recently learned that the new Minister of Northern Development and Mines (MNDM) Michael Gravelle will apparently not be proceeding immediately with amendments to the Mining Act as previously promised. These reforms have been developed to answer one of the commitments in Ontario's Mineral Development Strategy which addresses protection of surface rights holders and mining rights in the Ontario Mining Act and its regulations. On July
18, 2007 MNDM posted a proposal on the Environmental Registry that would
clarify Ontario's mineral exploration rules, through amendments to the
Mining Act that address concerns of surface rights holders and to provide
the mineral exploration industry with the certainty of investment through
clearer rules for exploration in the province. The comments submitted
to the EBR have not yet been released to the public. On December 5, 2007 Premier McGuinty is quoted as saying "We know we have to put in place some reasonable protocols that ensure that effective consultation is in fact there. We know we have to take a look at the Mining Act as well to ensure that it is updated and reflects the aspirations of a progressive society here in Ontario. That is one of many recommendations we will be carefully considering in government." However, the government will not be acting on the Premier's vision. Rather than proceed to legislation immediately as recommended by the MMAAC, the Premier is reported to have ordered a complete review of the Mining Act, which is generally anticipated to take in excess of four years. Through this mandate to MNDM the Premier has effectively sterilized any real results for the balance of his term in office. Since taking
office Minister Gravelle has rebuked recommendations of his own Advisory
Committee and appears to be reinventing the Mineral Development Strategy
passed by the Liberal Cabinet in 2006. FOCA has filed a complaint on this matter to the Office of the Ontario Ombudsman. This is a follow up to complaints previously made by other parties a year ago and supposedly addressed through government commitment to resolve the issues. The ombudsman is investigating. Recently events in Southeastern Ontario dealing with the incarceration of Aboriginal Mining protestors is a showcase of the government's lack of leadership causing difficult decisions by the judiciary and a black eye for the administration of Ontario's Mining Act. On March 18th non aboriginals from Sharbot Lake will appear in court for sentencing after their part in protests to protect their private property from intrusive prospecting. FOCA sees this, as the Ombudsman observed on other issues, an example of "Over-promising and under-delivering, a troubling trend in government that undermines citizens' confidence in public institutions". Indeed FOCA has been at the table working on the surface rights issues for seven years of promise after promise by government to deliver. At this point FOCA is disheartened by the lack of action on the surface rights file, and by the disregard shown by MNDM towards their own consultation process. The arrival of the new Mines Minister seems to mark the implementation of a philosophy of northern entitlement with a focus on enhancing investment in the province at the expense of Ontario's property owners, aboriginal groups and environmental stakeholders. Lack of fair and prompt resolve on these issues will no doubt lead to further disruptions to the exploration industry as well as questionable and unstable mining regime in Ontario. FOCA remains
committed to resolving the surface rights issues and continues to be concerned
about the current constitutional challenge to the Mining Act, calls for
moratoriums on uranium mining, and numerous deficiencies in the Act pointed
out in the Environmental Commissioners Report tabled in the legislature
in December 2007. FOCA's concerns
on this issue included privacy rights, limiting prospector access to private
property without consent of the owner, staking claims without notice to
the property owner's obligations to related legislation such as municipal
by laws, fisheries acts, forestry and environmental protection. This update
100 year old sections of the mining act. FOCA is a non-profit, voluntary organization serving as an information centre, providing assistance an leadership to Ontario's cottage associations and their members representing over 50,000 property owners in Ontario. For further information contact: Peter Griesbach,
FOCA Mining and Exploration Committee Terry Rees,
Executive Director 8) FOR THE RECORD: FIRST NATIONS' COURT DEFENSE The Ardoch Algonquin First Nation and the Shabot Obaajiwan First Nation Court Defense. February 15, 2008 On 15 February 2008, former chief Robert Lovelace was sentenced to 6 months in jail for refusing to comply with a court injunction while following Algonquin law to protect Creation. Co-chief Paula Sherman and Honorary Chief Harold Perry, who were also charged, agreed to abide by the terms of an injunction which forbids them from blocking Frontenac Ventures Ltd from drilling test holes on the site or encouraging others to do so. In this way they avoided Bob Lovelace's fate. Perry is age seventy-eight and has heart problems while Paula Sherman is a single parent and would stand to lose her children if she went to prison. Chief Doreen Davis and Earl Badour of the Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nation agreed to abide by the terms of the injunction of September 27, 2007 but they must still reappear in court on March 18, 2008. The Ardoch
and Shabot Defense/Counterclaim that was struck 9) SHABOT OBAAJIWAN PRESS RELEASE February 29, 2008 Shabot Obaajiwan War Chief announces renewed resolve in the wake of Lovelace's Sentencing Earl Badour, condoned war chief of the Shabot Obaajiwan First Nation, announced his solidarity today with Robert Lovelace, former co-chief of Shabot's sister community, the Ardoch Algonquin. Lovelace was sentenced to six months in jail and fined $27,000 for his role in the ongoing protest against the proposed uranium mine just north of Sharbot Lake. Five other leaders from both the Ardoch and Shabot Obaajiwan First Nations accepted a series of "undertakings" in the hopes that their sentencing would be more lenient. Badour, who has been fighting the uranium mine since the initial mine site occupation last June, will face sentencing on March 18th for the same civil contempt charges that put Lovelace behind bars. Badour is outraged by the extreme sentence levied on Lovelace: "The judgement was very harsh for a man that took a principled position on Native rights, for a man who is simply trying to fulfill his obligation as a Native person under Algonquin law to protect mother earth and the life forms that inhabit the earth." "This fight is far from over," says Badour, who remains committed to ensuring that Algonquin lands remain free of uranium mining. "We will fight the next phase of this battle at the political level," says Badour, who will be spearheading the Shabot Obaajiwan campaign to further publicize both the government's failure to fulfill its duty to consult and accommodate and the environmental impact of uranium mining at the top of the Ottawa Valley watershed. "This is first and foremost an environmental issue. Uranium mining is one of the most environmentally devastating forms of mining there is." For the Shabot Obaajiwan the prospecting, exploration, and drilling sequence of Frontenac Ventures Corporation on the Frontenac track represents a clear violation of their rights. The Shabot maintain that under section 35 of the constitution the government has a legally binding duty to consult and accommodate First Nations people before issuing land use permits on their lands. The Shabot Obaajiwan have consistently demonstrated their willingness to engage in discussion with the government. In fact, Shabot leaders agreed in October 2007 to end the blockade in order to engage in mediation with both the government and the exploration company. However, after a number of meetings, the government made clear that drilling would occur on the Frontenac Track regardless of First Nations concerns. This illustration of bad faith on the part of the government was a direct indication of its lack of respect for First Nations rights, values, and concerns. As the Shabot Obaajiwan people have made clear, there is one thing that the government, private corporations, and Justice Cunningham don't understand: When the future of our children is directly threatened, we have no choice but to fight back. For more information on the Shabot Obaajiwan fight against the uranium mine please visit www.shabotisstillhere.com 10) FOR THE RECORD: OTTAWA COUNCIL RESOLUTION ****CCAMU would like to thank John Kittle for his efforts in lobbying the Ottawa City Council. His work with the different municipalities has been an integral part of the process.**** The following is the resolution passed by the Ottawa City Council. OTTAWA COUNCIL
RESOLUTION Strange
New Twist in Legal Battle Over Platinex Denies Asking Court to Jail First Nation's Leaders Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (Big Trout Lake) First Nation February 28, 2008 Thunder Bay, ON - Chief Donnie Morris and five other leaders of the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) First Nation were recently held in contempt of a court injunction which prohibits them from interfering with a mineral exploration program by Platinex Inc. on KI's territory. In a strange development, Platinex released a statement on February 26 in which they deny seeking the incarceration of KI leaders: "Platinex wishes to publicly confirm that Platinex, through its legal counsel's oral submissions, did not seek incarceration of the KI contemnors. Certain media reports, some of which appear on the KI website, have erroneously stated that Platinex requested the contemnors' incarceration. Indeed, the contemnors' counsel proposed incarceration, instead of monetary penalties, as the appropriate sentence for the contempt." This claim is very odd since the court record clearly shows that lawyers for Platinex urged the court to jail KI's leaders. Here are excerpts from the transcript of the sentencing hearing on January 25 in Thunder Bay: MR. SMITHEMAN
(counsel for Platinex): .. These actions cry out for stiff sanctions by
this court. These are serious, flagrant transgressions of the law by persons,
from what I can see, who have shown no remorse. By their actions the contemnors
deserve no quarter, no sympathy from this court. The full transcript can be found at: http://www.kitchenuhmaykoosib.com/id34.html In addition, lawyers for Platinex filed written submissions to the court in which they asked the court to jail KI's leaders. The Notice of Motion of Platinex can be found at: http://www.kitchenuhmaykoosib.com/id36.html. The factum (written argument) of Platinex can be found at: http://www.kitchenuhmaykoosib.com/id37.html As recently as February 21 the lawyers for Platinex wrote to Justice Smith to provide him with precedents for jailing KI's leaders until they agree to end their opposition to Plantinex's exploration program. A copy of the February 21 letter can be seen at: http://www.kitchenuhmaykoosib.com/id38.html Chief Morris said: "We have no idea why Platinex is now denying that they want us in jail. We have read their submissions to the court and heard their lawyers in court on several occasions. Maybe they have a public relations problem, but they won't fix that by trying to mislead people about what they are doing. They need to learn to be honest. Maybe they should come and spend some time with us." Chief Donnie Morris and five other members of the community will learn their fate on March 17. KI is located 600 km north of Thunder Bay.
Samuel McKay,
Spokesperson, Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug, mobile: (807) 629-7266; The March 17 court proceeding will be at the Superior Court of Justice, 277 Camelot Street in Thunder Bay at 10:00 a.m. Links: 12) ARTICLE: OTTAWA COUNCIL CALLS FOR URANIUM MORATORIUM IN EASTERN ONTARIO Wednesday,
February 27, 2008 | 4:23 PM ET Ottawa city council is urging Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty to temporarily ban uranium prospecting, exploration and mining in eastern Ontario and the Ottawa River watershed. The council voted 18-1 Wednesday in favour of a motion calling on the province to impose the moratorium immediately and to keep it in effect until: * All environmental
and health issues related to uranium mining are "resolved." The same motion calls on the province to do a public review of its 1990 Mining Act. David Salisbury, the city's chief medical officer of health, said a mine in Sharbot Lake could pose a health risk in Ottawa. "It doesn't take much from a run-off point of view to get into the aquifer and then contaminate that aquifer and make that unusable for human consumption," he said. "Removing heavy metals from human water supplies is very difficult." To read the rest of this article go to... http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2008/02/27/ot-uranium-080227.html 13) ARTICLE: MCGUINTY MUST STEP IN OVER NATIVE MINING DISPUTE Mar 01,
2008 04:30 AM
To read the rest of this article go to... http://www.thestar.com/News/article/308322 14) ARTICLE: ABORIGINAL UNREST AND RESPONSIBILITY Canadian
Mining Journal By: Marilyn
Scales Sometimes it is easy for industry insiders to think that protest stems from misinformation. After all we've been successfully mining everything from antimony to zinc in this country for well over 100 years. But the road ahead is going to be bumpy. To read more of this article go to... http://www.canadianminingjournal.com/issues/ISarticle.asp?id=80401&story_id= 15) ARTICLE: ABORIGINAL CONFLICTS DRAW READER COMMENTS Canadian
Mining Journal By: Marilyn
Scales Allow us to share some of what we received. To read more of the article go to... http://www.canadianminingjournal.com/issues/ISArticle.asp?id=80759&issue=02272008
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