Let's just consider one.
Is mining exploration delivering economic benefits for First Nations?
The McFaulds Lake play in Matawa is the largest exploration boom since
Hemlo. If mining is the key to prosperity for First Nations then why
are so few Webequie members( I hear 3) actually working?
Every drill turning at McFaulds Lake should have a First Nation drill
helper.
The greatest opportunity for community benefits( usually 20% of
revenues to the First Nation) at the exploration stage is found in
accommodation and catering.At McFaulds the majority of these funds are
being spent at an exploration camp outside the community.
If exploration were delivering real economic benefits the affected
First Nations would see at least 14 community members employed per 2
million expended on exploration; community control of accommodation and
catering; and 10 cents of every dollar spent on exploration would go
the community for impacts on aboriginal and treaty rights.
So far, no deals have been announced at McFaulds.
The key drill holes in the McFaulds play are actually on a Marten Falls
trapline. Has the MNDM provided any funding to Marten Falls( or
Webequie for that matter) to actually meet the consultation
obligation? The answer is No.
We wonder how can a legal obligation be met if the MNDM are funding no
First Nation capacity to engage? Must be that MNDM view the obligation
in the most minimal form. No need to fund any capacity if your
definition of consultation is simply a notice. Maybe just sending in a
map or two. Maybe relying on the company to bear a burden the courts
say falls on the Crown.
If we are honest all we could say is that in the current process nobody
knows or can know what the Crown's consultation obligation actually is.
The Crown is simply relying on mining company deals with First Nations
to make sure the question of the scope of the consultation obligation
is never answered.
Money.The universal solvent.
>> Consultation and opportunity
>> Saturday, May 3, 2008
>>
>>
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>> By Michael Gravelle
>> We've all heard a great deal these past few weeks regarding the
>> sentencing of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (K.I.) First Nation
>> members (now under appeal) resulting from a dispute between the
>> community and the exploration company Platinex.
>> While I am personally very disappointed and indeed saddened to see
>> First Nations community members in jail, it is important to say that
>> this unfortunate situation does not in any way lessen our
>> government's resolve to work cooperatively with Ontario's aboriginal
>> communities.
>> Certainly, the Ontario government takes its duty to consult very
>> seriously and we are committed to meeting that duty on an ongoing
>> basis.
>> Prior to recent efforts by my colleague, the Minister of Aboriginal
>> Affairs, to broker a solution, my ministry was actively working with
>> K.I. and other First Nation communities in a number of ways
>> including:
>> • Visiting communities and attending community meetings to share
>> information about exploration and mining;
>> • Providing prospector training courses;
>> • Inviting communities to participate in our government's Far North
>> Geological Mapping Initiative;
>> • Entering into memoranda of cooperation to guide community
>> partnerships in MNDM's mapping projects;
>> • Facilitating dialogue between communities and the minerals sector,
>> including providing funding to enable community participation, and
>> technical review; and
>> • Encouraging the industry to have early and ongoing contact with
>> communities and to build relationships.
>> Ontario also sought and was granted intervenor status to participate
>> in the injunction proceedings regarding the dispute between K.I. and
>> Platinex because we wanted to play a role in finding a resolution.
>> In that regard, Justice Patrick Smith in his decision of May 2007
>> indicated that in the K.I.-Platinex case the government is meeting
>> its legal duty to consult.
>> However, we recognize that the duty to consult is not a one-off but a
>> continuing obligation. It involves both sides working together. I am
>> proud to say that we are committed to continue that work.
>> We believe strongly that Ontario's mineral sector can provide
>> meaningful opportunities for economic development and job creation
>> for many Aboriginal communities, particularly in the North where
>> communities are often remote.
>> The fact is that Canada's mining industry is the largest private
>> sector employer of Aboriginal Peoples. There are many examples in
>> Ontario of mining companies and First Nations working together to the
>> benefit of all.
>> That's why my ministry has been working over the past several years
>> to continuously improve relationships and engagement processes with
>> Aboriginal Peoples. This includes encouraging the industry to have
>> early and ongoing contact with communities and to build
>> relationships.
>> We also initiated a comprehensive engagement process aimed at
>> developing more effective aboriginal consultation approaches for
>> mineral sector activities.
>> Last year, we released a discussion paper as one part of a
>> multi-pronged engagement process that has included numerous meetings,
>> workshops, pilot projects, and information-sharing sessions across
>> the North. To date, my ministry has received positive, detailed
>> feedback and advice from many aboriginal communities.
>> While this work continues, my ministry is responding to what we've
>> heard by implementing some transitional measures to help enhance our
>> consultation activities. These measures include providing better
>> access to information about where staking and exploration activity is
>> occurring, and the withdrawal of important cultural and heritage
>> sites from staking.
>> In addition, we will continue to enrich the support and advice we
>> provide to the minerals industry on when and how to engage aboriginal
>> communities.
>> Last but certainly not least, we have committed to a review of the
>> Mining Act. We need to ensure that, as the premier stated, the act
>> meets our 21st century values. However, I believe it is vital that we
>> find the right balance so that economic development opportunities are
>> open to First Nations and other communities.
>> Through cooperation, communication and meaningful engagement, our
>> government is committed to ensuring opportunity and prosperity are
>> within reach for all Ontarians.
>> As Minister of Northern Development and Mines it is my commitment to
>> do everything I can to meet that goal.
>>
>> Michael Gravelle is the Minister of Northern Development and Mines
>> and MPP for Thunder Bay-Superior North.
