[Indigsol] Help prevent future Aboriginal mining conflicts

[Ben Powless]

*Help prevent another KI or Ardoch conflict in Ontario**.*

*Act now to show your support for comprehensive changes to how mining is
carried out in Ontario.*





*The Problem*


Under current laws and policies there are no or very inadequate provisions
for:

- strategic land-use planning prior to mining;
-  *consultation, accommodation and consent of Aboriginal people; *
-  environmental assessment (Mineral exploration and mines are exempt from
the province's EA legislation!); and,
-  discretion on the part of the government to refuse mining activity that
is not in the public interest.

*The Opportunity*


In August the Premier announced Ontario will review and amend the Mining Act
and the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines is accepting submissions
until October 15.



*A Proposed Solution*


In order to prevent future land-use conflicts and to reflect modern values
associated with the use of public lands and resources, the following 8
principles must be incorporated in to a Mining Modernization Act;

1.  Land use planning policies ensuring proper land use plans are in place
across the province;



2.  Requirement for free, prior and informed consent of Aboriginal Peoples
as a pre-condition to any mining activity;


3.  Environmental assessment for exploration and mining



4.  Permitting of mining activities for prospecting, exploration and mining,
including requirements for work plans, consultation and agreement of
Aboriginal peoples, environmental assessment and annual reporting;


5.  Consent of surface rights owners be a pre-condition to prospecting,
exploration and mining on their land;



6.  Increased transparency of mining operations, including public notice,
consultation and reporting to the public, annual reports with information on
proposed prospecting, exploration, and mining activities required under
permits and provided to the public with opportunity to comment on permit
applications and environmental assessments.


7.  Requirement for financial security deposit for 100% of clean up,
remediation and reclamation costs when a permit is issues for exploration or
mine development; and

8.  A self-funded regulatory scheme.



(These principles have been developed by Ecojustice and the Canadian
Institute for Environmental Law and Policy with the input and support of
members of the Ontario Free Entry Working Group including MiningWatch
Canada)



*Support the Call for Change*



Develop your own proposal or use the above recommendations to tell the
Premier you want to be sure that Ontario has a modern, respectful and
accountable mining industry.



Quote the Environmental Registry Number: 010-4327



Make your submission online at the Ontario Environmental
Registry<http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/displaynoticecontent.do?noticeId=MTA0MjUy&statusId=MTU1ODIy&language=en>

Email to: miningact at ontario.ca

Mail to:

Mining Act Modernization Consultations

Ministry of Northern Development and Mines

Deputy Minister's Office

99 Wellesley Street West, Suite 5630

Whitney Block

Toronto Ontario

M7A 1W3



Phone: (888) 415-9845



*For more information*

www.mndm.gov.on.ca/miningact

www.miningwatchcanada.ca







Ramsey Hart

Canada Program Coordinator

MiningWatch Canada



web: www.miningwatch.ca

email: ramsey at miningwatch.ca

tel: 613.569.3439 / fax: 613-569-5138



250 City Centre Ave. Suite 508

Ottawa, Ontario  K1R 6K7, Canada





-- 
"In life we meet extraordinary people who follow us wherever we may go" -
Trisha Nagpal
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.resist.ca/pipermail/indigsol/attachments/20081010/9d607ac3/attachment.html>