Negotiations

Following Historic Agreement on Métis Harvesting, Métis Nation of Ontario Begins Meetings on New Relationship with Government of Ontario Today

TORONTO (July 12, 2004) -- The first in a long awaited series of meetings with the Government of Ontario, on the basis of the recognition of the Métis Nation and the respect of their rights, begins today at Queen's Park in Toronto. Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) President Tony Belcourt and MNO Chair and Chief Negotiator, Gary Lipinski are scheduled to meet the Hon. David Ramsay, Ontario Minister of Natural Resources (MNR) at 4:30 at his office at Queen's Park, as a first step in developing a new relationship based on the historic agreement reached last week for the recognition of Métis harvesting rights in Ontario.

"This will be a proud moment for us," Mr. Belcourt said. "It is extremely gratifying to know that when we walk through the Minister's door, it will be, for the first time in Ontario's history, on the basis that the Métis Nation and the rights of its people are acknowledged and accepted in Ontario. We can now turn the page to begin long awaited discussions with the Government of Ontario on ways to work for the better well-being of our people and to build upon the foundations of our self-sufficiency and the economic development of our communities throughout Ontario," Mr. Belcourt added.

The landmark agreement between the MNR and the MNO was reached through last minute talks by phone during the MNO's 11th Annual General Assembly at Thunder Bay last week (final points of agreement attached). The agreement, which was announced to the Assembly on July 7, 2004, is based on four key elements:

• The MNO's Harvesters' Card system will be used as a means of identification of Métis harvesters by the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) in the field (a copy of the MNO's Harvesters Policy is available here);
  
• Métis harvesters with valid MNO Harvesters' Certificates, harvesting for food, in their traditional territories, will not be subject to regular enforcement procedures unless within the exceptions set out in the Interim Enforcement Policy.
  
• For the Fall of 2004, the MNO will issue a maximum of 1250 Harvesters Cards based on historic and anticipated demand for Harvesters' Cards; however, a mutually agreeable means for the increase of this number will be developed based on joint research and negotiations;
  
• An independent evaluation of the MNO's Harvesters' Certificate system will take place immediately.
  

"I would like to thank Minister Ramsay, his staff and MNR officials for their commitment and vision on this file. I would also like to thank our negotiations team which consisted of Jean Teillet, Jason Madden, Pete Lefebvre and the late Steve Powley. Their support and hard work was pivotal to getting to this agreement. Most importantly, I would like to thank our harvesters for the perseverance, support and patience they have shown throughout our long 'hunt for justice'. Using the words of the trial judge in the Powley decision, no longer will our people have to 'skulk through the forest like criminals when exercising their constitutional rights'," said MNO Chief Negotiator, Gary Lipinski.

In addition to the positive developments with the MNR, MNO President Tony Belcourt expressed optimism from recent discussions with the Hon. Michael Bryant, Attorney General for Ontario and the Minister responsible for Native Affairs: "I am encouraged by Minister Bryant's desire to see a new relationship formed with the Métis Nation through collaborative approaches rather than through protracted litigation. I am optimistic that that the McGuinty Government will herald in a new era of relations with Aboriginal peoples in Ontario and look forward to the future."

For further information contact:
Beverley Newton
1-800-263-4889 or
613-798-1488