The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne has responded to...

The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne has responded to the Seaway International Bridge Corporation (SIBC) Limited’s plans to permanently locate its toll booth plaza in the City of Cornwall at the base of the new 3 Nations Bridge. “The best location for the toll booth plaza is at the former Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Port of Entry on Kawehnoke,” said Grand Chief Mike K. Mitchell. “SIBC’s proposal to permanently locate the toll booth plaza on Canal lands in Cornwall will cause great economic harm to businesses and recreational facilities located in Akwesasne along the Seaway International Bridge corridor and will hurt the economic relationship between the City of Cornwall and the Akwesasne community” said Mitchell. Kawehno:ke Chief Brian David said “I would just like to remind the Seaway International Bridge Corporation that the community of Akwesasne has a continuing claim interest in all of the lands north of Cornwall Island, alongside the St. Lawrence River,” said David.  “The SIBC had the opportunity to negotiate with us. Now this will be an additional issue to be negotiated as part of our claim’s agenda… We weren’t even given the courtesy of being consulted on the decision, even though there is a statutory obligation to do so called the ‘Duty to Consult.’ Unfortunately, the time to consult has come and gone,” he said.