Matawa First Nations disappointed with changes to Mining Act

The Matawa First Nations are speaking out against the recently proposed legislation to modernize Ontario's Mining Act, berating it as failing to take sufficient input from their people into account during the consultation process.
Representing nine Northern Ontario First Nations located in the Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN), the Matawa First Nations are specifically deriding the lack of changes ensuring community consent prior to industry staking activities.
The community has been left with "major concerns" regarding the province's proposed approach to the modernization of the Mining Act. These include the need for provisions to accommodate First Nations in terms of economic development and revenue sharing opportunities, and requirements for industry to enter into Impact and Benefit Agreements should a project move to an advanced stage.
Priorities outlined by the Matawa First Nation in discussions with the provincial government were focused on ensuring that consultation from industry should take place within the community, and that consent from the community be a major priority before claim staking takes place.
"Once again, the voices of our First Nations people have been shockingly ignored," said Chief Sol Atlookan in a release.
"We are also concerned that the legislative review process will not allow for any meaningful changes to the legislation. As far as our communities are concerned, we have wasted all our time and resources with this process (and) its' business as usual after [the provincial government's] announcement."
The proposed changes to the new Mining Act as introduced on April 30 follows six months of consultations with more than 1,000 people and groups from across the province. Approximately 100 First Nation communities and Aboriginal organizations also participated in discussions.
These new changes include various provisions for Aboriginal communities, including provisions for withdrawing "significant" Aboriginal cultural sites from claim staking, and the introduction of a graduated approach to Aboriginal consultation, with the scope and degree tied to the impact of proposed exploration activities.
The move would also make Ontario the first jurisdiction in Canada to expressly recognize Aboriginal and treaty rights in its mining legislation.