By ALANA TOULIN, The Chronicle-Journal
Thursday, April 24, 2008
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Platinex's newly-announced mining developments in remote Northern
Ontario have drawn some harsh criticism from NDP Leader Howard Hampton
– something that has made the Toronto-area exploration company's
president and CEO quite angry.
"I am very irate about what Mr. Hampton is doing," said James Trusler,
who until now has mostly remained quiet throughout the long legal saga
between his company and the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation
over mining rights on land claimed as traditional territory.
Hampton released a statement on Tuesday deeming it "outrageous" that
the provincial government would award Platinex 72,000 acres of new
mining claims while the leaders from the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug
(KI) First Nation remain in jail.
Since the new Platinex claims are located near Webequie First Nation,
Marten Falls First Nation, Fort Hope First Nation, Neskantaga First
Nation and Gull Bay First Nation, Hampton claims it sends a "chilling
message" to other northern aboriginal communities.
"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," he said in the statement. "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?"
Trusler balked at Hampton's remarks and said that his company has
properly gone through the process set out by the Mining Act to obtain
its exploration rights.
"We're able to stake, we have a licence to stake, and we're able to
hire stakers and stake," he said, adding that they are "quite willing"
to work with other First Nations.
"I don't really appreciate Mr. Hampton trying to escalate the situation
– I think that's really what he is doing."
Trusler said Platinex will be coming out with a statement soon
presenting its side, since he is sick of everything that has been
"manipulated" throughout the court process with KI.
For instance, Trusler is quick to point out that Platinex is a small
company that he has run from the basement of his home. It are
environmentally conscious, he says, looking to mine platinum to be used
in fuel cells that can be used to combat global warming, and they has a
number of investors.
He lashed out at what he called a "large group effort" to undermine his
business.
"If that's the way the country is going to go, trying to snuff out
small entrepreneurial efforts – who, by the way, are people trying to
come up with solutions to global problems – it's just asinine, really,"
he said.
Additionally, Trusler alleges that Platinex almost faced bankruptcy
itself after KI "removed" $300,000 worth of unspecified materials from
it.
"The court ordered them to return it and they haven't," Trusler said.
"It's now worth about $600,000 if you look at the escalation in fuel
prices."
Jacob Ostaman, acting spokesperson for KI, showed disappointment that
Platinex is expanding its explorations in Northern Ontario.
"We're trying to send a message that the Mining Act is not appropriate
in regard to First Nations' interests," he said. "To continue to issue
mining permits, that's a source of the problem. It's disrespectful to
our people that are in jail right now."
A spokesperson for Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael
Gravelle confirmed yesterday that there will be an expedited review of
the contempt of court sentence for the six jailed KI leaders.
