Latest press releases
09 October 2009
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Support a moratorium on uranium exploration
Fair and Meaningful Consultations with First Nations
What You Can Do
Call the constituency offices
Premier Dalton McGuinty
(613) 736-9573
Aboriginal Affairs Minister Michael Bryant
(416) 656-0943
You will join hundreds of others who are calling today as part of the Constituency Day of Action. Most important is that you call and tell them what you think. If they are not in, please leave a message with their assistants or on their voicemail.
- Identify who you are, and where you are from.
- Say you are leaving a message for the Premier or Minister.
- Tell them you demand fair and meaningful consultations with First Nations and that you support a moratorium on uranium exploration and mining.
- Or talk about a personal experience that explains why this issue is so important for you.
Write or email to Premier McGuinty
See the letter sent to him today. Join the call for an immediate moratorium on uranium mining and fair and meaningful consultations with First Nations affected by mining activity on their traditional lands.
- Use the online contact form http://www.premier.gov.on.ca/
- Send a fax (416) 325-3745
- Mail a letter
Dalton McGuinty, Premier
Legislative Building
Queen's Park
Toronto ON M7A 1A1
Dear Friends:
Today I have written to Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty about a grievous injustice and one possible solution. I hope you will join me.
Robert Lovelace, a member of the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation, is currently serving a six-month jail sentence in Lindsay, Ontario. Chief Paula Sherman of the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation faced the same sentence and was forced to pay a $15,000 fine. Next week more members of the Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nation will face still more punitive sentences.
Why? They were protesting uranium exploration on their traditional lands. Ontario's out-dated Mining Act allows such mining exploration activities as blasting, drilling, clear-cutting and surface-stripping, without consideration for the First Nations whose lands are being disturbed and for local communities concerned about the health effects of radiation released by mining activity.
The solution? A moratorium on further uranium exploration and mining in Ontario. Let's make sure the Algonquin First Nation's courageous principled stand is not in vain. I urge you to join with Greenpeace, First Nations, Amnesty International, other NGO's and thousands of concerned citizens in calling on Premier McGuinty to instate a moratorium - NOW.
Destructive uranium mining is the first step in Ontario's dirty, dangerous and unnecessary nuclear expansion plan.
Constitutional rights of First Nations are clear — activities like mining should not be permitted without First Nations being fairly and meaningfully consulted. Neither the Ardoch Algonquin nor Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nations have been consulted in this case.
What is happening in a jail cell in Lindsay today has no place in 2008. Premier McGuinty and his Aboriginal Affairs Minister Michael Bryant cannot hide behind court orders, they have a responsibility to our First Nations, and to our children.
That's the message we need to send loud and clear to Premier McGuinty and his government. Please join Greenpeace. Call the Premier today.
Bruce Cox
Executive Director
Greenpeace Canada
