Hampton condemns new mining claims for Platinex

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> April 22, 2008
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> Hampton condemns new mining claims for Platinex
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> Queen's Park - NDP Leader Howard Hampton condemned the McGuinty
> Liberals
> for awarding Platinex Inc. 72,000 acres of new mining claims in
> Northern
> Ontario.
>
> "It's outrageous that the McGuinty Liberals awarded Platinex new
> mining
> rights to 72,000 acres of land while leaders from Kitchenuhmaykoosib
> Inninuwug (KI) continue to languish in jail," said Hampton.
>
> Platinex is the exploration company that sued KI First Nation for $10
> billion dollars, nearly bankrupting the First Nation, and causing
> Chief
> Donny Morris and five KI councillors to go to jail for standing up for
> their constitutional rights.
>
> "These new Platinex claims are adjacent to Webequie First Nation,
> Marten
> Falls First Nation, Fort Hope First Nation, Neskantaga First Nation
> and
> Gull Bay First Nation," Hampton said.
>
> Hampton said this sends a chilling message to First Nations across the
> North.
>
> "On one hand, First Nations leaders are jailed because they demand
> their
> constitutional right to be consulted and accommodated before potential
> environmental damage happens to their lands while on the other hand,
> Platinex is awarded extensive new mining rights after suing KI for
> $10-billion and nearly bankrupting the community in the process," said
> Hampton.
>
> "Is this the message the McGuinty government wants to send to First
> Nations: if you stand up and ask for your constitutional rights to be
> recognized you could go to jail while the mining company gets mining
> rights to your land?" asked Hampton.
>
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> Media Inquiries: Marion Nader 416-325-2601