Feature Article June 26,2003
LAND O' LAKES NewsWeb HomeResidents Concerned about Land ClaimsPlevna In a rare occasion of allowing a non-agenda delegation to speak openly, Mayor Stan Johnston heard input from a North Frontenac ratepayer at Council meeting on June 23, just hours before His Honour and the delegate were slated to attend a meeting regarding aboriginal land claims in this area.
Winton Roberts, an Ompah resident, said he planned to join Mayor Johnston at the Pembroke meeting on June 24 as a community representative, and he persisted in trying to determine the municipalitys stand in various areas prior to that gathering. I have spoken to at least 10 local people, Roberts said, and they dont really know what is going on. I would like to know the municipalitys stand, for example, on wild-ricing, and how this (displaying a Federal government Bill on the issue) is going to impact.
In response, Mayor Stan Johnston laid out the municipalitys position, stating that We have to start bringing in local people. There was a meeting last fall to bring about this [June 24] meeting. The federal, provincial, and municipal governments will not negotiate piecemeal; the status and non-status natives have to negotiate together. That is the problem to date, and we are hoping to hear that they are together on this.
Mayor Johnston further said, The municipalitys position, Winton, is that you cant have two sets of rules. There are other issues land planning, roads, taxation, garbage the rules have to apply to First Nations as well, and they have to be fair and equitable. You cant just take a huge swath of land that would financially impact [the township]. If there is a dollar settlement, the whole province must pay, not just individual townships.
In his summation, the Mayor said, Our position is that the federal and provincial governments not make any agreement without input from the municipalities. The ratepayers need to know. The local population doesnt understand the impact, and it is a provincial responsibility to inform them.
Full disclosure on results of the June 24 meeting will be made available to The Frontenac News at a later date.
