NAN goes on offensive to fight Bill 191

Nishnawbe Aski Nation has launched an anti-Bill 191 campaign.
"We are done talking, it's time to take serious action," said Grand Chief Stan Beardy. "First Nations must have a say in how and when our land will be developed. Bill 191 takes away that right for our remote communities in the Far North."
Beardy said NAN will be ramping up its efforts to get the message out "loud and clear that there is no other alternative for the McGuinty government than to scrap Bill 191; the NAN Chiefs-in-Assembly unanimously declared their official opposition to Bill 191 Aug. 13.
Bill 191, the Far North Act, was introduced in June 2009 to permanently protect at least half of the Ontario's Far North, covering an area of about 225,000 square kilometres, in a network of conservation lands and allow for sustainable development of the region's natural resources.
"It is vital that we make NAN's presence and position known," Beardy said. "We are coming together in unity to fight for what is rightfully ours."
Beardy said the NAN communities never gave up the right to govern themselves through the treaty making process.
"Neither did we give up our title to our homelands," Beardy said. "That is the problem with (Bill) 191: the provincial minister has veto rights on decisions regarding to the uses of the land as well as the protected areas. We cannot support that."
As well, Beardy said the Ontario legislation does not recognize First Nation jurisdiction and authority over their homelands.
"Also, that legislation fails to honour our inherent Aboriginal treaty rights."
Natural Resources Minister Linda Jeffrey said in an e-mail that Ontario is moving forward with land use planning as it is important to balance environmental protection with resource development across the region but the MNR recognizes as well that there is more work to be done based on dialogue with Beardy and other NAN representatives.
"It is inaccurate to say that the Bill will take away First Nations' decisions on how and where development can occur," Jeffrey said.
"Bill 191 represents a change in the working relationship between First Nations and Ontario in the Far North. If passed, the Bill would provide a new approach to land use planning, one of cooperation and joint responsibility for the planning process."
Jeffrey said Bill 191 was amended after First Reading through feedback from NAN communities and others and will be amended once again clause-by-clause in the legislature.