Aroland files information request on Ring of Fire meetings

Aroland First Nation has filed a freedom of information request relating to the Cliffs Natural Resources chromite mine project in the Ring of Fire.
Aroland Chief Sonny Gagnon said he discovered the provincial government and Cliffs had been holding confidential meetings during a May 1 meeting with Joseph Carrabba, Cliffs chairman, president and CEO.
“I just wanted to know what they are not revealing to us,” Gagnon said, “especially when they are going to make decisions affecting my First Nation and my membership.”
Gagnon said his community and many other local communities will be impacted by the Cliffs project.
“We believe Cliffs and the province are holding discussions behind all of our backs about the ferrochrome processing plant, the mine, the infrastructure, and more,” Gagnon said. “We need to find out the extent of these exclusive meetings. They are deciding the future for everyone in northwestern Ontario without consulting any of us.”
Aroland is seeking records in the possession of the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines and any provincial department and ministry with which the MNDM participated in the decision to site the Cliffs ferrochrome processing plant in the greater Sudbury area, near Capreol.
Gagnon said his community had been looking for the ferrochrome processing plant to be built in the local area to maximize benefits from the chromite deposit.
“We’re looking at 100-years plus,” Gagon said, estimating the life of the Cliffs chromite deposit. “I want to make sure it is done right today so the future of our children and grandchildren are taken care of.”
Gagnon said his community remembers watching the forest industry haul all the trees away from their area without much benefit to the community.
“Now they want to do the same with the ore,” Gagnon said. “The mining companies want to take the resources out of our ground and for us to watch them take it away again. I say no — this time you are not going to take it away.”
Gagnon said he is going to do whatever he can to maximize employment and growth in his community.
“They need to prosper,” Gagnon said. “We need housing, we need just about everything.”
Gagnon said his community has not had much of an opportunity to discuss the chromite development process with the provincial government or Cliffs.
“How do they get the input as to what the Supreme Court of Canada has recognized to the right to consult and accommodate,” Gagnon said. “They are breaking their own laws. I’m not breaking no laws; they are and it seems like we are getting the short end of the stick all the time when it comes to development.”
Gagnon said the situation is a breach of his community’s constitutional right under section 35 of the Canadian Constitution Act, 1980 which guarantees First Nations the right to be consulted and accommodated on matters that affect them and their traditional lands.
“This is exactly why a comprehensive environmental assessment does not work for First Nations,” Gagnon said. “We want a negotiated joint review panel, we want to fully participate, we want to protect our land, our people and exercise our Aboriginal treaty rights. We don’t want to be a victim of the comprehensive (environmental assessment) and end up like Attawapiskat.”
An MNDM spokesman said the ministry has not yet received the freedom of information request by official channels, but once it arrives they will review it and determine how long it will take to respond.
“The usual requirement is 30 calendar days,” said Andrew Morrison, spokesman with MNDM. “However, if there are circumstances that require a lot more resources to be involved or if it is a particularly large request requiring more time to compile, then we would work with the requestor to establish a longer timeline.”
Morrison said the provincial government has been involved in discussions with companies, including Cliffs, regarding development in the Ring of Fire.
“The focus of those discussions has been to ensure that Ontario benefits from the investment proposed by Cliffs, including the ferrochrome processing facility,” Morrison said. “The decision where that facility may be located is one that rests with Cliffs, so I would encourage anyone who wanted more information about that location to contact Cliffs directly.”
Morrison said MNDM Minister Rick Bartolucci’s goal is ensure the facility is located in Ontario to maximize opportunities for the province.