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Bob Rae to negotiate on behalf of Matawa First Nations in Ring of Fire

Author

Compiled by Debora Steel

Volume

31

Issue

3

Year

2013

Long-time politician and former federal Liberal interim leader Bob Rae will negotiate on behalf of Matawa First Nations in developing the Ring of Fire mining belt in Ontario, ensuring an influential voice for full participation in economic activity in the region. Rae will tour nine Matawa Tribal Council communities to meet with community members. “There have been issues in the past about decisions that have been made without fully consulting with First Nations. Everybody recognizes the tremendous potential for development but we’ve also got to make sure the development is to the benefit of everyone in the whole community,” Rae said. The tribal council is looking for a provincial response to its proposed regional strategy negotiation framework. Chiefs are also calling for Ontario and federal governments to ensure that environmental assessment processes provide for full participation by First Nations in a culturally-appropriate way, including in their Native language. The mandate is to deal with the province on development needs, infrastructure needs like hydro, broadband, roads and the environmental assessment process. And there are the social issues, said Rae. “If we have big problems with drug addiction and big problems with health care and big problems with education, then people are not going to be able to take full advantage of opportunities that development poses,” said Rae. “This isn’t about one project.”