[IPSM] Round Two - KNOCK OUT NIOCAN!!!

[shelly]

Round Two - KNOCK OUT NIOCAN!!!
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On May 16th, at 3pm, Niocan stocks were halted from trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The reason given? "Pending News". The same day, Minister Thomas Mulcair requested that BAPE make their environmental assessment of the Niocan mine public, and BAPE issued a press release stating:

"After analysis, the commission is of the opinion that the studies carried out by Niocan Inc. did not allow the commission to rule confidently on certain aspects of its mandate because of a number of gaps. To rectify this, Niocan Inc. has made numerous commitments, including a pledge to conduct
other more in-depth studies in the case of the certificate of authorization... the commission feels that this approach is inappropriate because such studies would be conducted after issuance of a possible
certificate and without sufficient guarantees as to Niocan Inc's fulfilment of its commitments."

Niocan needs the certificate of authorization to move the project forward. But along with the environmental concerns which were the focus of the assessment, the release also mentioned:

"the commission learned through the public consultation process that the land on which the mine is located is subject to claims... [and] most public consultation participants are very concerned about the mining project, to which they did not consent."

Niocan also joined the fray and issued a press release May 17th entitled: "BAPE report favorable to Niocan; a few additional guarantees required". They say "the conclusion and press release issued by BAPE do not reflect the positive contents of the report", and claim there are written commitments
between themselves and the Ministry of the Environment that answer all questions still lingering in the BAPE report.

So while it looks like there was a knock out for the People in Round #1, this is a red alert - NIOCAN is struggling to get up and take another swing! We gotta knock 'em out now and hold them down for the count - Knock Out Niocan!!

Phone/Fax/Email Thomas Mulcair and Say NO to the Niocan Niobium Mine:
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Call to action: Stop Niocan's proposed niobium mine on Kanien:keha'ka Territory!

 Phone : (418) 521-3911
 Fax : (418) 643-4143, and
 Email: ministre at mddep.gouv.qc.ca
 Thomas Mulcair, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment & Parks

 Refuse Niocan! Resist Environmental Racism! Reject Canadian Colonialism!
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 *IPSM Delegation to Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development - Report Back

On Monday May 2nd , seven members of the Indigenous Peoples Solidarity Movement (IPSM) made an unexpected visit to Thomas Mulcair's office (Quebec Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks). The delegation's demand was to ensure the Minister's office reject the proposed Niocan Inc.'s Oka Project of a Niobium mine on traditional Kanien:keha'ka (Mohawk) territory.

Niocan is awaiting a certificate of authorization from Mulcair, to give the project the go ahead. Mulcair had 60 days to approve or reject the project, starting March 31st. His sixty days ends this coming Sunday May 29th, 2005.

The receptionist told the delegation Mulcair was not in, and his attache's were busy in meetings. She advised it was better to call ahead of time to arrange appointments. After being informed the delegation was willing to wait all day to see someone, a meeting was set up with two of Mulcair's
political attaches, Tammy and Josee, who apologized saying Mulcair was not available due to his "tournee regionale pour le developpement du plan durable".

The delegation made it clear the Niocan project could not go forward on unceded Kanien:keha'ka land. There was not even the pretense of consultation with the community of Kanehsatake (as is required according to recent Supreme Court decisions) and the environmental, and therefore cultural harm the project would cause would be irreparable.

Josee Lacoursiere responded by saying the BAPE's consultation process was open for everyone to attend. However, when faced with the fact there were no notices sent to Kanehsatake community members, that the mandate of the BAPE was limited to water contamination issues only, and that there was no soil or water sampling conducted in Kanehsatake as part of the assessment, Ms. Lacoursiere then became unfamiliar with the details of the evaluation process.

Asked where the process was currently at, Josee said Muclair has been busy looking at the report and is "taking all the precautions" in the process of making a decision.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the delegation insisted on a meeting with Mulcair. Ms. Lacoursiere offered the delegation a meeting with his chief of Cabinet, Alain Gaur. IPSM insisted Muclair is the person they need to meet with, and now they are still waiting for this meeting, and the clock is ticking...

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The inquiry and public hearings report on the potential effects of operating a niobium mine and plant in Oka on surface and ground water and the uses thereof is now available at BAPE's consultation centres, the consultation centres in the community concerned, and at BAPE's Web site at
www.bape.gouv.qc.ca. You can also request a copy from BAPE by e-mail at communication at bape.gouv.qc.ca, or by phoning either (418) 643-7447 or toll-free 1-800-463-4732.
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BACKGROUNDER:

Niocan Inc., a Montreal based mining corporation, is nearing the final stage of approval for a mining project, entitled the "Oka Project", to be developed within the traditional territory of the  Kanien:keha'ka (Mohawk) people. The proposed location of this niobium mine is right next to the
community of Kanehsatake and the Oka municipality. Community members have taken a clear
stance on this issue - this destructive project will not be tolerated! In addition to the outright violation of the centuries old claim the Kanien'keha'ka people have on this land, the mine will also pose a serious environmental threat - resulting in the release of ionizing radiation  and the contamination of air, soil and water.

Currently, Niocan is awaiting a certificate of authorization from Thomas Mulcair, the Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks to give the project the go ahead - they are confident that this certificate will be granted.

Some key points that we would like to raise with the minister are:

- This is unceded traditional Mohawk territory that they have laid claims to and thus neither Niocan Inc. nor the Quebec government has any right to pursue any projects on this land.

- The project will result in the release of ionizing radiation (specifically, radon). There is no established safe limit of radiation and thus no guarantees that there won't be health risks posed to residents.

- Furthermore, no environmental assessments have been carried out specific to the  community of Kanehsatake.

The contact information for the minister's office is again, as follows:

Ministère du Développement durable, de l'Environnement et des Parcs
Édifice Marie-Guyart
675, boul. René-Lévesque Est
30e étage, Québec (Québec), G1R5V7
Phone : (418) 521-3911
Fax : (418) 643-4143
Email: ministre at mddep.gouv.qc.ca


Sample letter:

ATT: Mr. Thomas Mulcair, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks

RE: Niocan Inc.'s proposed Oka Project

Mr. Mulcair,

We are writing to you to express our absolute opposition to Niocan Inc.'s proposed Oka Project.

This project would entail destructive practices on traditional Kanien'keha'ka (Mohawk) land - territory that they have laid claim to for centuries and continues to be disputed. Thus far, no efforts have been made on the part of the government or Niocan Inc. to consult with the people of Kanehsatake in
regards to this mine. Despite Niocan's claims, the community remains adamantly opposed to the project. Regardless of the company's assertions that the Oka Project will result in a dramatic infusion of capital and jobs into the local economy, this operation is not  environmentally, economically or culturally sustainable for the Kanien'keha'ka people. The Socio-economic study carried out by Niocan's auditors, KPMG, contained no recognition of these matters. The fact that the Quebec government has a $427, 000 equity investment in the project is not lost on community members and allies; nor is the fact that mining operations have historically targeted Indigenous lands and perpetrated
violence, displacement and  environmental racism. 

We would also like to reiterate the environmental concerns that have been raised by members of both the  Kanehsatake and Oka communities. Despite the BAPE's dismissal of the amount of radioactive material which will be released during the excavation, essentially, there is no established safe limit of ionizing radiation. Consequently, neither Niocan Inc. nor the government can guarantee the project will not have adverse health effects on those living in the area. Locals are already exposed to the highest national levels of radon gas - a well established carcinogen. Secondary to previous mining activities, radiation levels in some homes in Oka already exceed the relatively lax Canadian safety
standards. There is no documentation as to what these levels are in Kanehsatake.

Besides release into the air, waste from the operation will be released into the local water system; the water table will also be used to supply the project. The far-reaching effects of all of these   derangements on the local agriculture and way of life cannot be understated. Furthermore, the
materials left behind in slags and tailings after the projected 17 year operation will continue to
negatively impact the environment and future generations. In April  2000, 62% of the Parish of Oka voted against Niocan's project. 

Approval of this project would result in serious violations of Kanien'keha'ka treaty rights and the rights of all local residents to health and security.

Therefore, in alliance with the communities of Kanehsatake and Oka, we demand that Niocan Inc.'s Oka Project proposal be rejected by your office. 

Sincerely,
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