Roger Varley has been in the news business almost 40 years with The Canadian Press/Broadcast News, Uxbnridge Times-Journal, Richmond Hill Liberal and Uxbridge Cosmos. Co-winner with two others of CCNA national feature writing award. In Scout movement over 30 years, almost 25 as a leader. Took Uxbridge youths to World Jamboree in Holland. Involved in community theatre for 20 years as actor, director, playwright, stage manager etc. Born in England, came to Canada at 16, lived most of life north and east of Toronto with a five-year period in B.C.
A very scary promise
If Uxbridge council announced plans to develop a portion of Elgin Park in some way to benefit the township's economy, but said it would cost us 50 per cent of the trees in the park, do you think there would be some kind of outcry?
If Durham Region made a similar announcement about the Durham Forest, but pointed out it would cost us 50 per cent of the forest's trees, would there be some kind of public protest?
I imagine that, given the number of conservation and environmental organizations in the area, the noise would be deafening. And yet, there has been - as far as I can determine - barely a whisper of complaint about the provincial government's plans for the Ring of Fire.
I'd bet a dollar to a doughnut that many of you don't even know what the Ring of Fire is.
In its recent throne speech, the McGuinty government announced plans for a major mining undertaking in a part of the James Bay area that is called the Ring of Fire. It's where a huge deposit of chromite has been discovered, touted as the largest such deposit in the world and the only one in North America. Chromite is necessary in the production of steel and - the government tells us - the mining of this mineral deposit would help lead Ontario out of the recession.
The government tells us such an undertaking will provide jobs and better economic conditions for the First Nations communities - somewhere around 49 of them - that dot that far northern reach, most, if not all, accessible only by plane. And the same government breathlessly tells us that environmental concerns will be a top priority and - get this - the government is committed to protecting 50 per cent of the northern boreal forest.
But looking at that from the other side, doesn't that mean the government is telling us they are willing to let the other 50 per cent of the northern boreal forest go bye-bye? And just how much of the boreal forest are we talking about? How about 225,000 square kilometres?
Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle is up in that neck of the woods this week to talk to the First Nations people about the development, something they are said to be in favour of because it will create economic opportunities for them. They want to make sure they benefit from the development and play an important role in how it all comes to pass.
In a letter to a Toronto newspaper this week, Mr. Gravelle assures us the government is “moving forward with a community-based land use planning system for this region”. He promises that environmental and local economic development concerns will be met.
But in November last year, Cliffs Natural Resources Inc., an international mining and natural resources company, became a major player in this chromite mining plan and said plans to bring the deposit to market would include construction of an open-pit mine and mine-site processing facility. Millions of dollars have already been spent by mining companies intent on being part of this operation and those involved talk about billions of dollars of economic activity.
With that kind of money in play, does anyone think for a moment that the “benefits” to the First Nations communities are going to be anyone's top priority? Does anyone think for a moment that the potential for environmental devastation in the area will be first in mind for the players?
The white man's record as far as keeping promises and honouring treaties made with Canada's native peoples are concerned is well known. And now the First Nations people are being asked to believe the white man again, in particular a certain Dalton McGuinty, who has made an art of breaking promises since his government was elected.
It seems to me that the First Nations people, indeed all of us, should take heed of Elmer Fudd and be “vewy, vewy afwaid”.
Tell me, am I wrong?
