Métis consulation session in Sault Ste. Marie next month

NEWS RELEASE

METIS NATION OF ONTARIO

************************* Métis Nation and Ontario government move forward in implementing Ipperwash Inquiry's recommendations

Province-wide consultations on government's duty to consult and accommodate Métis rights in Ontario announced

OTTAWA, January 24 - Today, the leadership of the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) announced upcoming province-wide community consultations on the government's duty to consult and accommodate Métis rights with a view to increasing Métis input and involvement in Ontario's forestry, energy and mining sectors as well as developing an Ontario Métis consultation cramework.

The consultations are a response to a series of Supreme Court of Canada and Ontario court decisions on Aboriginal rights as well as Justice Linden's recommendations in the recently released Ipperwash Inquiry report.

A backgrounder on some of these cases is provided.

The main focus of the consultations will be to provide information to Métis citizens on the Supreme Court of Canada's new legal framework - the duty to consult and accommodate - which requires governments to consult and accommodate Métis communities when the Crown contemplates actions that may affect Métis rights, interest and way of life.

Specifically, the MNO will be consulting its communities on the development of an Ontario Métis consultation framework, as a means to ensure Métis rights and interests are protected, while also increasing Métis involvement in the forestry, mining and energy sectors.

Tony Belcourt, MNO president stated, "For the first time in over a decade, the Métis people are not in court with the Ontario government. As a result, we now have the opportunity to work with the province on ensuring Métis rights and interests are respected and accommodated in natural resources development in Ontario."

"These consultations are an example of the Ontario government putting Justice Linden's recommendations from the Ipperwash Inquiry into action. Instead of confrontation and litigation when it comes to natural resource development in this province, the MNO and the Ontario government are working together to ensure Métis rights and interests are recognized and respected," added Belcourt.

Gary Lipinski, MNO chair, and, MNO portfolio holder for Natural Resources said, "For years our people have been wanting to increase Métis involvement in the forestry, energy and mining sectors in this province. These consultations will be a catalyst to make sure that happens."

Lipinski concluded, "The support for these consultations, by both the Ontario Government and the Government of Canada, reflects a new era in Métis rights in this province. An era based on recognition and respect for Métis rights. We are encouraging all Métis citizens to come out to these meetings so we can hear their thoughts and priorities as we set out a new and ambitious rights-based agenda."

The consultations are set to begin on February 9 in Port Elgin with the Grey Owen Sound Métis Council and the Saguingue Métis Council hosting the first meeting.

The consultations will continue through until the end of March and include meetings in Midland, Toronto, Sudbury, North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie [a Métis Nation of Ontario representative told SooToday.com news that the local session will be held February 14 from 6 to 9 in the evening at a location to be determined], Ottawa, Kirkland Lake, Timmins, Thunder Bay, Dryden, Kenora, Fort Frances, Parry Sound, Windsor, Hamilton and Welland.

Additional information on the consultations and the meeting locations are available at this website or by contacting the MNO Head Office in Ottawa.

The Métis are a distinct Aboriginal people with a unique culture, language and heritage, with an ancestral homeland that centres around Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and extends into the Northwest Territories and the northwestern United States.

The Métis played an instrumental role in the shaping of Canada, and work tirelessly to share their culture, traditions and knowledge of the environment with their fellow Canadians. Today, the Métis live, work, raise their families and pay taxes in communities all across Canada.

Backgrounder on MNO news release

In 2003, in R. v. Powley, the Supreme Court of Canada recognized that Métis communities hold constitutionally protected Aboriginal rights that must be respected by governments.

In 2004, in the Haida Nation v. British Columbia and Taku River Tlingit v. British Columbia cases, the Supreme Court set out a new legal framework - the duty to consult and accommodate - which directs the Crown to consult with Aboriginal peoples and accommodate proven and asserted Aboriginal rights when governments contemplate developments that may affect Aboriginal rights and way of life.

In July 2004, based on the Powley, Haida and Taku decisions, the MNO and the Ontario Ministry for Natural Resources (MNR) entered into a province-wide accommodation agreement on Métis harvesting based on credible Métis harvesting rights claims throughout the province.

In June 2007, the MNO-MNR agreement was upheld by the Ontario Court of Justice in R. v. Laurin as "legally defensible" and "highly principled" based on Haida and Taku.

In July 2007, the Ontario government decided not to appeal the Laurin case and renewed discussions with the MNO in order to fully implement the MNO-MNR agreement.

In May 2007, the Ipperwash Inquiry report recommended that the Ontario government work with Aboriginal peoples on implementing the duty to consult and accommodate in legislation, regulations, and other applicable government policies in order to promote respect and understanding for this duty throughout the provincial government and increase Aboriginal engagement in and benefit from the development of natural resources in the province.

In January 2008, both the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, on behalf of the Ontario government, and the Office of the Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, on behalf of the Government of Canada, agreed to provide resources to the MNO to undertake consultation on the duty to consult and accommodate with its citizens with a view to increasing Métis input and involvement in Ontario's forestry, energy and mining sectors as well as developing an Ontario Métis consultation framework.

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