Monday, February 11, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THUNDER BAY, ON: Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Harvey Yesno expects results from the new Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne as she was officially sworn into her office today at Queen’s Park in Toronto.
Now that the Ontario Liberal Party has completed their leadership selection process, it is time to get down to business in the north.
The James Bay Treaty No. 9 and the Ontario portions of Treaty No. 5 covers two-thirds of Ontario, and NAN First Nations expect results from the Ontario government – in order to bring economic growth and prosperity to Ontario from the remote north – benefiting all Ontarians with investments, opportunities, jobs, infrastructure and business that are all much needed in this province.
“The Premier of Ontario needs to kick-start the Ontario economy and improve the future prospects for all Ontarians. It’s not a mystery to anyone in government – the lands and resources required to generate wealth for the future of Ontario are going to come out of the remote north – our treaty territories,” said NAN Grand Chief Harvey Yesno. “The future of any Premier in Ontario may hinge on how they choose to proceed with resource and economic development in the remote north; and NAN First Nations are anticipating those discussions.”
“The position of Nishnawbe Aski Nation remains firm,” said Grand Chief Yesno. “Whether it’s the Wynne government or the next, it is time for the government of Ontario to begin negotiations with our First Nations on treaty-wide resource revenue sharing so development can proceed in the north. The Premier must be committed to Ontario and First Nations to address treaty and aboriginal rights, and bring forward resource revenue sharing, equity and benefits for all of us.”
“Potential economic barriers such as the Far North Act must also be addressed, and movement on First Nations agreements and opportunities in the Ring of Fire are essential to Ontario’s future economic growth,” said Grand Chief Yesno in Thunder Bay this afternoon.
Ontario lags significantly behind other provinces in negotiating with First Nations to sign and secure agreements to share the lands and resources that are subject to the treaties, the Constitution Act 1982, and the Supreme Court of Canada decisions in favour of First Nations and treaty, aboriginal and our basic human and economic rights.
Nishnawbe Aski Nation is a political territorial organization representing 49 First Nation communities in James Bay Treaty No. 9 and Ontario portions of Treaty No. 5 – an area covering two-thirds of the province of Ontario in Canada.
For more information please contact: Jamie Monastyrski, Communications Officer – Nishnawbe Aski Nation (807) 625-4978 or cell (807) 630-7087 email jmonastyrski@nan.on.ca.