Bob Rae, Addressed Ring of Fire Issues at PDAC

Treaty Nine and Five are major stumbling blocks in fostering better relations between the Ontario government and First Nations communities involved with the Ring of Fire Bob Rae chief negotiator for the Matawa First Nation told those attending the opening session of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada convention in Toronto on March 3, 2014.

The Matawa Tribal Council on whose behalf Rae is negotiating an agreement on the development of the Ring of Fire is not opposed to mining in the area, but they do expect revenue sharing as way to help the impoverished area develop its social and human resources

“From a First Nations perspective sharing the land and its resources is the starting point” Rae said. “From the government’s perspective it is all about extinguishing title assuming ownership and then deciding what are the rules of the game.

That approach by government has to change if partnerships are to develop.

The Ontario Minister of Natural Resources Michael Gravelle and the Liberal government have been touting partnerships as the way for developing the Ring of Fire. As recently as his February 14, 2014 news conference from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Gravelle said that partnerships are the key for Ring of Fire development and that includes the First Nations as important partners.

At the Northern Leadership Conference held in Timmins on December 6, 2013 Premier Kathleen Wynne also spoke extensively about the importance to develop partnership and also to ensure First Nations participate in the development of the Ring of Fire as equal partners. The development of the Ring of Fire Premier Wynne said was crucial for helping to lift nearby First Nations out of poverty.

However, Bob Rae, the former Premier of Ontario and also the interim leader of the federal Liberal Party of Canada told the PDAC audience that treaties signed in Ontario between the government and the First Nations over 100 years ago are the major stumbling block towards reaching agreement on resource development.

Rae explained that the regions of Canada that are progressing the fastest in towards revenue sharing with First Nations are those that never signed treaties.

“Where is revenue sharing happening today?” he asked. “It is happening in British Columbia, Quebec, Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut because government, First Nations and industry can improvise a solution and are not restricted by treaties.”

“Institutions are resistant to change in particular in treatied provinces,” he added and this is a particular problem in the Ring of Fire and other developments.”

From a practical point of view what we are trying to do in the Ring of Fire is to create a process of discussion around environmental infrastructure, community wellbeing and revenue sharing, Rae explained.

In order to address these issues the companies, the provincial and federal governments as well as the First Nation communities within the Ring of Fire need to participate as equal partners.

“We need to take a more comprehensive approach,” he emphasized. “And through the process allow for precedent setting approaches to develop that will be beneficial for other jurisdictions as well.”

Rae was critical of the limitations imposed by the Federal Indian Act which keeps First Nations divided. Rae pointed out that the Indian Act creates 650 First Nations, but does not empower regional organizations to speak on behalf of the individual communities.

These First Nations he explained do not have stable economies, they are mired in poverty and it must be remembered that they are the product of Canadian legislation which has been amended several times but the fundamental basis of its direction has not been challenged in over 145 years.  

The Indian Act prevents the discussion of problems on a regional basis and instead focuses on agreements with vulnerable communities which has its own way of doing things instead of focusing regional solutions.

Resolution of issues pertaining to the Ring of Fire need to be made on a regional basis because the environmental system is regional, the need for infrastructure is regional without this fundamental shift we could be deadlocked. But if government wants to accomplish regional agreements because the environment is regional and the infrastructure is regional we need to change the Indian Act.

In addition Rae pointed out that First Nations in remote areas near the Ring of Fire have major problems and mired in poverty. The resources are being extracted near their communities that have a severe physical and mental health issues.  He said these are the legacy of colonial development and marginalization of our First Nations people based on what we have done and not done.

“That is why we need to change how are operating” Rae said.

In closing Rae told the story of Sir John A Macdonald’s response over 130 years ago when asked to explain what is the best way to deal with Quebec?

Sir John A. said you treat if you treat Quebec like a faction and they will respond like a faction, but if you treat them like people with dignity and they will respond with dignity.

Rae said he can’t emphasize how true that statement was then and how much it applies to the Ring of Fire.

The way you treat people makes a world of difference,” Rae said. “But it is not only talking about dignity but acting and treating people with dignity and respecting the differences and accepting that the patterns of life and values may be different. “

First Nations have a real desire to work in partnership and resolve the issues in a mutually beneficial way.  The implications of such a partnership approach are enormous not only in Canada but around the world.

Rae believes there is no other route but that of creating sustainable partnerships.

“The alternatives are lousy,” he declared, “Such as going to court and spending a lot of money….where only lawyers will make money –or pretending to ignore the rights have been affirmed and reaffirmed by the Supreme Court of Canada that recognizes the rights of aboriginal people across Canada."