Open letter to Dalton McGuinty re: opposition to uranium exploration

The Hon. Dalton McGuintyPremier of OntarioRoom 281Main Legislative BuildingQueen′s Park
Toronto, OntarioM7A 1A1

Dear Premier McGuinty:

As I write this, Robert Lovelace is serving a six-month jail sentence in Lindsay’s Central East Correctional Centre. Chief Paula Sherman faced the same sentence and was forced to pay a $15,000 fine. These two leaders of the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation are guilty of nothing more than peacefully protesting against uranium exploration on traditional Algonquin land. Last year your Minister of Aboriginal Affairs spoke of your government’s clear intention to “move forward in a concrete, practical and deliberate way to forge a stronger, more positive relationship with all Aboriginal peoples in Ontario”. Jailing aboriginal leaders does not fit with your Minister’s words. While you may argue that you cannot interfere with a court ruling the fact is Algonquin leaders have acted because your government failed to engage First Nations in meaningful consultation.

Chief Paula Sherman, Robert Lovelace, and members of the Ardoch Algonquin and Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nations were protesting uranium exploration by Frontenac Ventures Limited, activity that included blasting and cutting trees on traditional territory that has been subject to an Algonquin land claim for over 25 years. Neither of these First Nations was consulted prior to exploration beginning.

Growing opposition to uranium exploration is not restricted to First Nation communities. Residents of surrounding communities in Eastern Ontario are also concerned about the health risks caused by radiation released when uranium ore is disturbed, in addition to the clear-cutting, surface stripping, trenching, drilling and blasting that are common and are tolerated under Ontario’s out-dated Mining Act. Ottawa City Council recently voted 18-1 to ask the provincial government to impose a moratorium immediately on uranium prospecting, exploration and mining in Eastern Ontario. Nova Scotia has maintained a moratorium on uranium mining since 1982.

This new speculation on uranium mining in Ontario is being fueled in large part by your government’s planned $40 billion expansion of nuclear generation. Uranium prospecting is an obvious first step in the nuclear generation process that will end with communities being forced to store radioactive waste that will remain deadly for thousands of generations.

Greenpeace Canada calls on you and your government to impose an immediate moratorium on uranium exploration pending resolution of First Nations land claims and a better understanding of the health risks to our communities resulting from uranium contamination. With the spot price of uranium spiking and wrong-headed government plans to expand nuclear power, greed is motivating aggressive uranium exploration throughout Eastern Ontario and the Haliburton area.

Robert Lovelace and Chief Paula Sherman have taken a principled stand on behalf of our children and future generations.  I urge you to do the same: act without delay, the time for a moratorium on uranium mining is now.

I look forward to your early response.

Sincerely,
Bruce Cox
Executive Director
Greenpeace Canada

cc: Robert Lovelace, Ardoch Algonquin First Nation
Chief Paula Sherman, Ardoch Algonquin First Nation
Chief Doreen Davis, Shabot Obaajiwan Algonquin First Nation
Chief Earl Badour Sr., Shabot Obaajiwan Algonquin First Nation
Chris Reid, Barrister and Solicitor
John Kittle, Community Coalition Against Mining Uranium (CCAMU)
Mining Watch
Amnesty International
Mark Lutes, David Suzuki Foundation
John Tory, Leader, Ontario Progressive Conservative Party
Howard Hampton, Leader, Ontario New Democratic Party
Norm Miller, Progressive Conservative Critic for Aboriginal Affairs
Bill Murdoch, Progressive Conservative Critic for Mines
Toby Barrett, Progressive Conservative Environment Critic
Gilles Bisson, Ontario NDP Critic for Aboriginal Affairs
France Gelinas, NDP Critic for Mines
Peter Tabuns, Ontario NDP Environment Critic