Feature Article April 29, 2004
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AAFNA comes to Council North Frontenac Council April 26
Chiefs
Randy Cota and Robert Lovelace of the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation
and Allies (AAFNA) appeared before North Frontenac Council to discuss
two issues: an issue related to a subdivision agreement, and the
proposal to erect a plaque in recognition of the Wild Rice War
that began in 1979 and culminated in an altercation between NF
residents and the provincial police in 1981.
Ontario Municipal Board in 1995 determined that a gate would be erected at the southern border of a subdivision near Norcan lake in the former township of North Canonto and that the township, the land owner and AAFNA would each have a key.
In 1999, when the developer went back to the Municipal Board to request a review, the township asked that the gate be left open from May to November for the forest road to be used by recreational users as part of the Crown Land Stewardship program that had by then been entered into. It is this change that Chiefs Lovelace and Cota came to Council to dispute.
Our interest in setting up the agreement was to foster a go slow approach to development in the interest of ourselves and the township, and we feel the amendment in 1999 contravened the spirit of the initial agreement.
Lovelace and Cota were appearing before Council at this time because it is only now that the subdivision agreement has reached the stage where they have been requested to sign off on it.
We dont want to cause any more expense for the owner, who has been co-operative, but we will not sign off on the agreement until the township amends that section which calls for the gate being left opened, Lovelace said.
The road in question provides access to Crown lands from the north end of the township. The matter was not resolved at the Council meeting.
Plaque: Counsellor Will Cybulski reported on work that has been done between the Communications Committee of Council and Chief Randy Cota in regards to a plaque being placed on the northeast corner of the bridge at Ardoch in recognition of the Wild Rice. Chief Cota said the Wild Rice wars were an example of the Algonquin population and the rest of the population in North Frontenac coming together in a common cause against something that was just not right. The staff and the Councillors of the township were as involved as any of the Algonquin peoples, and we want to commemorate this great moment in our collective history.
The public works manager has said it will not be a problem to prepare the site, and a suitable rock has been located which can be moved into place, leaving only the question of the cost of the plaque. Chief Cota estimated that at $800 - $1200. We will have a plaque, even if we have to collect bottle caps in order to do it, but it would be nice for the people of North Frontenac to help pay for it. Cota also said a celebration is being planned for August 21, which will be a major event for the township, with at least 600 people attending, and he expects to have the plaque unveiling on that date. It was agreed that the final wording of the plaque would be submitted to the Communications Committee for approval, so the plaque can be ordered. It was not decided how it will be funded.
More on the Ward 2 fire door the emergency door that is to be installed at the Ward 2 fire hall will now cost $1900. Council passed a motion authorizing the public works manager to hire an appropriate contractor to put the door in.
Zoning bylaw The comprehensive zoning bylaw has been posted on the township website and comments are to be received by the 25th of May. The appeal period for the bylaw will extend until July 7, after which time the township will have a zoning bylaw, effectively completing the official plan exercise.
Pioneer Cemetery A plan is being put together that will include Cadets, the Pioneer museum committee, the township and a local arbourist in rehabilitating the Pioneer Cemetery in Barrie Township as a kind of township heritage site. All the work will be done on a volunteer basis, and the township need only secure insurance for the volunteers who will be doing the work.
