Bill 191 headed for Third Reading

The Far North Act is officially headed for Third Reading in the Ontario legislature despite opposition by northern Ontario First Nations, mayors and chambers of commerce.
“The voices of First Nations people in northern Ontario continue to fall on deaf ears,” said Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Stan Beardy in a Sept. 17 press release. “The Premier of Ontario has failed to honor his promise to NAN First Nations that Bill 191 would not become legislation without our support. In yesterday’s Question Period, Premier (Dalton) McGuinty could not answer as to whether he intended to keep his word. It is obvious that his words mean very little and his promises even less.”
Timmins-James Bay MPP Gilles Bisson relayed a Bill 191 question from Beardy to McGuinty during the Sept. 16 Question Period in the Ontario Legislature.
“As the leader of Ontario, you promised last fall to the Nishnawbe Aski people that you would not pass the Far North planning act, Bill 191, unless it met with our consent,” Bisson said, passing on Beardy’s question to McGuinty. “As the leader of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation, I am telling you that Bill 191 does not meet with our consent. As the leader of the Nishnawbe Aski people, I am asking you, the leader of Ontario, will you keep your promises?”
McGuinty said Ontario has gone through a lengthy consultation process.
“We have worked very closely with our Aboriginal communities and we now find ourselves at a point where it’s necessary for us to move forward,” McGuinty said. “One of the assurances I do want to provide Grand Chief Stan Beardy and all our aboriginal communities is that we will, if requested, put in place an advisory committee comprised one half of representatives of our Aboriginal communities so that they can, on an ongoing basis, have continuing influence as we shape this policy to ensure that we get it right.”
Bisson asked Beardy’s question again after McGuinty did not directly answer.
“Premier, nobody buys it,” Bisson said. “First Nations don’t buy it, community leaders in northern Ontario don’t buy it and chambers of commerce in northern Ontario don’t buy it.”
After McGuinty again failed to answer if he will keep his promise to not pass Bill 191 unless it met with the consent of the Nishnawbe Aski people, about 100 people, including NAN leadership, community members and supporters, marched out of Question Period.
“If Bill 191 passes Third Reading, we will not recognize the legislation,” Beardy said. “Through the treaty making process we are recognized as a nation under international law. When we made treaty with the British Crown, we never gave up the right to govern ourselves or our custodial rights to the land. We will never give up our rights. We have put the province on notice that if this bill passes, there will be conflict and no certainty for developments of any kind in the North.”
A Ministry of Natural Resources spokesperson said Bill 191 will be heading to Third Reading “very soon,” but could not specify exactly when.
Since Bill 191 was first introduced in June 2009, Nishnawbe Aski people have maintained their united position that it does not respect Aboriginal and treaty tights nor the inherent rights of First Nations.
NAN stated in the press release that its First Nations have not been properly consulted on Bill 191, despite the Ontario Government’s attempts to publicize otherwise, and have strong concerns regarding the proposed legislation including the 225,000 square kilometers of boreal forest that will be protected in northern Ontario — leaving minimal opportunity for economic growth.
The Third Reading procedure is as follows:
That, when the Order for Third Reading of the Bill is called, two hours shall be allotted to the Third Reading stage of the Bill, apportioned equally among the recognized parties.
At the end of this time, the Speaker shall interrupt the proceedings and shall put every question necessary to dispose of this stage of the Bill without further debate or amendment; and
That the vote on Third Reading may be deferred pursuant to Standing Order 28(h); and
That, in the case of any division relating to any proceedings on the Bill, the division bell shall be limited to 5 minutes.