Wawatay News
SEPTEMBER 26, 2013
ᐧᐊᐧᐊᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐧᐃᓇᐣ
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Conservatives endorse mining tax royalties for First Nations Bryan Phelan Wawatay News
Ontario Progressive Conservatives say a share of the mining tax royalties should go to First Nations and other communities that build and support new mines. Tim Hudak, the PC leader, introduced a policy “white paper” outlining his party’s position on the north during a visit to Thunder Bay on Sept. 17. “The Ring of Fire is the greatest mining discovery of a lifetime but the project has gone nowhere,” Hudak stated in the introduction to the policy paper, Paths to Prosperity: A Champion for Northern Jobs and Resources. To ensure mining development moves ahead, “As a first step, we need to work with business and Aboriginal communities to expedite the construction of an all-season transportation link to the Ring of Fire deposits,” the paper suggests. The policy release comes one week after the Ontario Mining and Lands Commissioner dismissed an application from Cliffs Natural Resources for an easement that would allow the company to build an allweather road to the Ring of Fire over mining claims
staked by another company. Cliffs planned the road to transport ore south from its proposed $3.3-billion Black Thor chromite mine to Nakina, where it would then be taken by rail to a ferrochrome processing plant to be built near Sudbury.
The Mining Act should be streamlined to ensure the mining potential of this province in unlocked... The Mining Commissioner’s decision “does jeopardize the viability of the project going forward unless it can be resolved,” Jason Aagenes, director of environmental affairs for Cliffs, told Wawatay News. In explaining the ruling over 43 pages, Commissioner Linda Kamerman and Deputy Commissioner Marianne Orr stated: “The tribunal is very troubled by the fact that no provincial representative came forward to testify as to the provincial or public interest.” As a result, “This is not a case where there is a public interest element for the tribunal to consider. What is
before the tribunal is no more than a simple corporate fight and, as between those two corporations, the law is clear; the application must fail.” In their policy paper this week, meanwhile, the Conservatives say: “A single provincial minister must be in charge of ensuring the Ring of Fire is turned into new jobs and (be) empowered to remove any obstacles standing in the way.” As for changes to the provincial Mining Act introduced under the Liberal government in 2012, “these new regulations have made claim staking and early prospecting activities more difficult,” the PCs say. “The Mining Act should be streamlined to ensure the mining potential of this province is unlocked.” The Conservatives propose that First Nations and other communities that support new mines benefit directly. “We would allow a portion of mining tax revenue from new mines to stay in local communities and First Nations.” In the forestry industry, a PC government “will direct a portion of stumpage fees to local communities and First Nations,” but only when the industry is profitable and the province’s books are balanced.
NAPS top cop sworn in
Rick Garrick/Wawatay News
Students compete in Amazing Race Rick Garrick Wawatay News
Dennis Franklin Cromarty First Nation High School’s Amazing Race was a success even though it was postponed for about a week due to rain. “It was awesome; it was fun,” said Keewaywin’s Kayla Kakepetum. “It was a good experience running around the city.” Kakepetum said her team ran into one glitch during the Amazing Race, a bridge closed for repair. “The Cameron Street bridge was down,” Kakepetum said. “We had to go all the way around it.” Kakepetum’s team also took part in the Up the Creek Without a Paddle canoe race across the swimming pool at the Canada Games Complex. “They had to use styrofoam paddles,” Kakepetum said. “They couldn’t use their hands.” Fort Severn’s Kyla Lachinette said the canoe race was no problem for her due to her experience this summer on a nine-day canoe trip. “We had to use the styrofoam paddles, but it still helped us,” Lachinette said. “We did pretty good too — they said we were
the fastest group.” The A Team finished first among the six teams taking part in the Amazing Race, while the Cupcakes finished second and No Name Tristan finished third. The six teams raced each other via the Thunder Bay transit system to six different social service, health, leisure and education locations around the city. “I think they got a good orientation to all of Thunder Bay,” said Annie Culligan, a counsellor at DFC. “They walked through a few doors they probably hadn’t walked through before, so that kind of breaks the ice if they ever need to or want to use those services.” Culligan stressed the importance of the students being introduced to Confederation College and Lakehead University during the Amazing Race. “That was an amazing activity that the coordinator set up for us over there,” Culligan said about the Lakehead University location. “She thinks it is really important for high school students to feel comfortable in a university environment. She looks for many opportunities to expose them to that environment so they feel comfortable and welcome there. It is the same deal at the college as
well.” Sandy Lake’s Destiny Meekis helped his team with his knowledge of the Thunder Bay transit system. “I got my team going everywhere,” Meekis said. “First we went to the Boys and Girls Club — we had to do some jousting where we had to fight two people and knock them off. That was pretty fun.” Meekis said the highlight of the Amazing Race was a foot race against another team from the bus stop to DFC. “There were two teams on that bus so we had to race to the conference room,” Meekis said. “That was pretty fun. We got second place though.” The Incredibles employed an unusual tarp reversal move to win the last stage of the Amazing Race. “Everyone got in a line, we all grabbed one end of the tarp and we all hopped over trying to flip it,” said Brandon Wright, a teacher at DFC. “It wasn’t the neatest or even the recommended technique, but it was one that got us to actually flip over the tarp in probably 30 seconds time — faster than any other team. So it wasn’t pretty, but it worked.”
Treaty 3 names new police chief Staff A former detachment commander at Sioux Lookout is the new head of Treaty Three Police Service. Dan Davidson will take over
photo courtesy of NAPS
His Worship Senior Justice of the Peace Marcel Donio (left) looks on as new Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service Chief Terry Armstrong officially signs on. He replaces Robert Herman (back) who has been at the helm of NAPS on an interim basis since Jan. 23. The change of command ceremony took place at NAPS headquarters in Thunder Bay Sept. 17.
the police service in early October. He also served as the head of major crimes for the northwest. Davidson succeeds Conrad DeLaronde, who resigned his position last month amidst problems with labour relations.
The interim Chief of Police will begin working for Treaty Three Police in a secondment position from the Ontario Provincial Police commencing on Oct. 7. Davidson had a long and successful career with the OPP, which began in 1991. As a constable, Davidson was posted in Red Lake, Ontario and Cobourg, Ontario. From 1996-1999, Davidson worked from Thunder Bay, Ontario until he accepted an appointment to the Sioux Lookout region where he has been for the last 13 years. Most recently a detective inspector involved in Major Case Management for the Northwest Region, Davidson has had several years of experience working with both Treaty Three Police and Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service.
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