2007 Headline Stories
MNO Harvesting Agreement legally binding on Government of
Ontario
OTTAWA (June 12, 2007) --- The Ontario Court
of Justice has ruled that the historic harvesting agreement
entered into by the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) and
the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) is legally
binding on the Government of Ontario and that the laying of
charges by the MNR against three Métis harvesters violated
the terms of that agreement. The Hon. Justice Greg Rodgers
today ordered a stay of proceedings against the three Métis
harvesters involved, Marc Laurin, Shaun Lemieux and Roger
Lemieux, all of the French River region of Ontario, south
of Sudbury.
Steps
in the Right Direction - Message
from MNO President Tony Belcourt
The news that the Government
of Ontario will not appeal our recent court victory in
the case of R v. Laurin, Lemieux and Lemieux and the recent announcement that Ontario Premier Dalton
McGuinty has created a new Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs
are definitely steps in the right direction.
No
appeal of MNO court victory in R v. Laurin, Lemiex
and Lemieux
(Jun 21/07) - The Government of Ontario has given notice
that it will not appeal the decision of Justice Greg Rodgers
on June 12, 2007 to stay the charges of Marc Laurin, Roger
Lemieux and Shaun Lemieux.
Media:
North Bay Nugget - Province
won't appeal Métis fishing charges
Documents:
Summary of the Court Decision [PDF]
Justice
Greg Rodgers decision in R v. Laurin, Lemieux & Lemieux [PDF]
Backgrounder:
R. v. Laurin, Lemieux
& Lemieux
Final
arguments in Métis Harvesting case heard
(Feb 15/07) - Legal Council, Jean Teillet and Jason Madden,
will be making final arguments in the case of the Government
of Ontario vs. Laurin, Lemieux and Lemieux on February
16th, 2007 in North Bay. |
“We
have achieved another major victory in the Metis hunt for
justice”, said MNO President and Chief Captain of the
Hunt, Tony Belcourt. “This judgment restores our faith
in the value of negotiated agreements and justifies our position
that we wish to work out our issues at a negotiating table.
I hope this judgment will now pave the way for us to finally
establish an appropriate working relationship with the Government
of Ontario that is long overdue,” Mr. Belcourt added.
The
MNO/MNR Harvesting Agreement was reached on July 7, 2004.
Following July 7th, the MNR attempted to unilaterally change
the terms of the Agreement by only applying it to MNO harvesters
living in areas north and west of Sudbury. Fifty percent (50%)
of MNO Harvest Card holders are south of that line. To date,
a total of 25 charges have been laid against MNO Harvest Card
holders in those areas.
“This
ruling is going to be a tremendous relief to MNO Harvesters
who have been living under a cloud of uncertainty for the
past three years”, said MNO Chair and Deputy Chief Captain
of the Hunt, Gary Lipinski. “We call upon the Government
to immediately drop the charges against the remaining 22 MNO
Harvesters who are due to go to court, some as early as next
Monday, June 18th. It is time for us to now move on fulfilling
all of the terms of our Agreement and the MNO remains committed
to return to the negotiations table to continue the discussions
that are called for in that Agreement based on the court’s
clear interpretation of the Agreement,” Mr. Lipinski
concluded.
Jean
Teillet, legal counsel to the Harvesters and the MNO said,
“The judge confirmed our analysis of the Crown’s
obligations when it enters into agreements with Aboriginal
people. He said our agreement was ‘not merely legally
defensible but a highly principled response.’ The Minister
did the right thing in 2004 when he entered into this agreement
with the Métis. Having that affirmed so strongly by
the judge should be encouraging to Métis and to government.”
The Métis are a distinct Aboriginal people with a unique
culture, language and heritage, and with an ancestral Homeland
that centers around Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta,
British Columbia, parts of the Northwest Territories, as well
as the northwestern United States. The Métis played
an instrumental role in the shaping of Canada, and work tirelessly
to share their culture, music, traditions and knowledge of
the environment with their fellow Canadians. Today, the Métis
live, work, raise their families and pay taxes in communities
all across Canada.
CONTACT:
Avery Hargreaves,
Communications Assistant
Cell#: 613-294-1148
Work: 613-798-1488 Ext. 108
Katelin Peltier
MNO Acting Manager of Communications
Cell #: 613-859-1730
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