And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: From: David McLaren <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Message-Id: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 1999 21:55:23 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 9 March 1999 [Recipient List Suppressed] ONTARIO MNR OFF-LOADS MANAGEMENT TO STAKEHOLDERS Although the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources has not been able to come to an agreement on the management of the Native fisheries around the Bruce Peninsula with the Chippewas of Nawash after 5 years and 2 governments, it has been able, in the space of less than two years, to draft and pass enabling legislation (the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, and its regulations) and sign management agreements with the following special interest groups [with web references for more information]: ** Hunter Education and Licencing to the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, Feb. 26, 1999. Includes $350,000 from the MNR to the OFAH for administration, and it may include additional money for the collection of fees and tags. [http://www.bmts.com/~dibaudjimoh/page64.html] ** Fish and Wildlife Guardian Program. Volunteer conservation officers, probably recruited from sportsmen�s clubs. Trained to the level of entry COs, they will testify in court, but will not carry firearms. [http://www.bmts.com/~dibaudjimoh/page64.html] ** Commercial Fishing Assessment and Management. The MNR signed a deal with the Ontario Commercial Fisheries Association in January 1998, turning over management duties (including assessment) of the non-Native commercial fishery to commercial fishermen. [http://www.bmts.com/~dibaudjimoh/page69.html] ** Fish Inspection Act. Amendments to this legislation greatly increases the search, seizure, arrest and detainment powers of fish inspectors. There is nothing in this Act or in the new Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act that prevent the Minister from appointing representatives of the OCFA or the OFAH or even volunteer "Guardians" as fish inspectors. [http://www.bmts.com/~dibaudjimoh/page63.html] ** Fish and Wildlife Commission. Coming soon to a forest near you: the vehicle for total hunter & angler control over the management of fish and wildlife in Ontario. The MNR is actively discussing the idea of off-loading all fish and wildlife management responsibilities to an arm�s length, industry-based group. This is being pushed by the OFAH who expect to dominate such a Commission. The vehicle for doing this will likely be the existing Fish and Wildlife Advisory Board -- an angler and hunter dominated advisory board that recommends how the Minister should spend funds from the $42 million Special Purpose Account (an account funded by royalty and licencing fees and dedicated to fish wildlife stocking and habitat projects). [http://www.bmts.com/~dibaudjimoh/page64.html] ** The Bait Association of Ontario (BAO) will receive funds from another special purpose fund (set up by the MNR from increased licence fees) to manage it members (ie, issue licences, collect data, and report harvests). Unfortunately, there are virtually no other controls on this industry which takes tens of thousands of food fish out of streams and rivers annually. [http://www.bmts.com/~dibaudjimoh/page52.html] NAWASH LETTER OPPOSING OFF-LOADING Ralph Akiwenzie, Chief of the Chippewas of Nawash has written to the Minister of Natural Resources, Hon. John Snobelen, stating the First Nation�s opposition to the nearly total off- loading of MNR responsibilities to third-party stakeholder organizations. Here is an excerpt from Chief Akiwenzie�s letter to Snobelen (copied to Jane Stewart, Minister, Indian Affairs and Northern Development): "We oppose the MNR�s drift to off-load natural resource management to special interest groups such as the OCFA and the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters who have neither the constitutional authority nor the political mandate to assume these roles. In our opinion, this is a dangerous trend. The MNR is slowly turning stewardship roles for fish and wildlife over to those who will profit most from their exploitation. And, at the same time, it is setting a collision course with First Nations whose constitutionally recognized rights to fish and wildlife have already come into conflict with the licenced privileges of OCFA and OFAH members." [http://www.bmts.com/~dibaudjimoh/page66.html] LET THEM KNOW HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THE GIVE-AWAYS: Hon. John Snobelen, Ontario Minister of Natural Resources E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: 416-314-2301 Fax: 416-314-2216 Hon. Jane Stewart, Minister Indian Affairs and Northern Development E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: 613-992-3118 Fax: 613-992-6382 Hon. Christine Stewart, Minister, Environment Canada E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: 613-992-8585 Fax: 613-995-7536 --------------------------------- David McLaren Chippewas of Nawash 519-534-4107 [EMAIL PROTECTED] &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) Unenh onhwa' Awayaton http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
