The Far North Act was passed into law at Queen's Park by the McGuinty government and was received not with sustained applause from Northerners, but with anger and condemnation.
Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Deputy Grand Chief Mike Metatawabin called the Sept. 23 passage of Bill 191 a “disappointing day” for those who lobbied to stop it.
NAN chiefs have said the bill violates their treaty rights and had promised “conflict” and “unrest” if the bill is passed into law.
“As we have stated time and time again, NAN First Nations and Tribal Councils do not, and will not, recognize this legislation on our homelands,” said Metatawabin. “We will continue to uphold our Aboriginal and treaty rights and jurisdiction over our land. The real fight is just beginning.”
The vote passed third reading in the Ontario Legislature by a vote of 46-26. The Liberal government aims to protect 225,000 square kilometres of boreal forest from development, or 21 per cent of Ontario's land mass.
The government has been quick to try and placate First Nations by promising First Nations' approval in identifying and approving areas that either require protection or are suitable for economic development.
Natural Resources Minister Linda Jeffrey said the act represents a “new era of social prosperity, economic certainty and environmental protection” in the Far North. “It is our responsibility as global citizens to make wise land use decisions for this vast and unique part of the province and the world.”
Turning land use planning over the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) didn't sit well with Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce president Harold Wilson.
He said the act only serves to hinder business and investment in the North.
“This is about withdrawing 50 per cent of the Far North from possible development, and holding the rest of the area subject to an MNR-led quagmire.”
A week earlier, Wilson joined Nishnawbe Aski Nation chiefs at a Sept. 15 rally in Toronto to protest for the act's withdrawal. He was present again in the Ontario Legislature a day later when the NAN leadership walked out in protest during Question Period.
Wilson said effective land use planning has already been taking place without the Far North Act.
Conservative MPP Randy Hiller called Bill 191 a “travesty” and criticized the Liberal government for passing the bill without regional consent. Hillier said the act will put mineral resources off-limits to Aboriginal people and will doom them to “generational poverty.
“Dalton McGuinty has told Northerners that he knows better than them what they should be doing on their land. This government has ignored opposition from all Northerners, just to appease their southern Ontario special-interest friends.”
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath accused Premier Dalton McGuinty of reneging on his promise to forge a “new relationship” with First Nations by passing the legislation without their consent.
Timmins-James Bay MPP Gilles Bisson said the act hands the government “blanket powers to override local First Nations' land use decision and does not respect Aboriginal rights to accommodation.”
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