Skip to Main Content

Public Meeting Presentations from Obashkaandagaang First Nation & Ontario Ministry of Indigenous Affairs available for download

Public Meeting Presentations from Obashkaandagaang First Nation & Ontario Ministry of Indigenous Affairs available for download

Public Notice Requesting Input to a Screening Process - provided by Ontario Ministry of Indigenous Affairs

INVITATION TO COMMENT 

PROPOSED DEREGULATION OF A PORTION OF THE LAKE OF THE WOODS CONSERVATION RESERVE AND DISPOSITION OF CROWN LAND 

 

Comments must be received within the comment period, which expires on Monday, September 30th, 2019. 

 

Presentations made by Obashkaandagaang First Nation & Ontario Ministry of Indigenous Affairs at the August 31 public meeting are attached and available for download.

Also a complete version of the Statement of Claim  is attached as requested at the meeting.

.

The Ontario Ministry of Indigenous Affairs (IAO), supported by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF), Kenora District, is inviting public comment on the proposed disposition of provincial Crown lands as part of the settlement of the Obashkandagaang (Washagamis Bay) First Nation’s Garden Islands Boundary Claim. The lands that have been identified for possible disposition are ten islands located in Lake of the Woods (see attached map), that are currently designated as part of the Lake of the Woods Conservation Reserve and must first be deregulated prior to disposition. 

In addition to the islands, Ontario may also include the lands surrounding each of the ten islands. This could mean including lands that are currently under water as part of the settlement of this claim. The reason for the possible inclusion of lands under water is as follows: the specific islands identified in this claim should have been set aside and confirmed as reserve for Obashkaandagaang First Nation before the water levels increased as a result of damming the Lake of the Woods. The high water caused by the damming has reduced the size of the ten islands under consideration for possible disposition. Additional information about this Land Claim can be found in the enclosed Background Information Sheet. 

The information collected through this process will help in the project screening conducted under the Class Environmental Assessment for Resource Stewardship and Facility Development Projects (Class EA-RSFD) and Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves (Class EA-PPCR) to assign a category to the project and for future evaluation. The projects that need to be screened under the Class EAs are: amending conservation reserve boundaries (Class EA-PPCR) and the disposition of Crown land (Class EA-RSFD). 

If the project is screened as a Category B project this notice will serve as the first of two notices. The second notice, a Notice of Completion will be provided only to parties who have requested further notice. 

If the project is screened as a Category C project, this will be first of three notices including Notice of Opportunity to inspect draft Environmental Study Report

Comments and personal information concerning the claim and proposed deregulation of land are being collected under the authority of the Environmental Assessment Act, Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act and the Public Lands Act to assist with decision making and to allow for follow-up with individuals as required. Comments received by the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs will be shared with other ministries as part of the Class EA process. 

Comments not constituting personal information as defined by the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, will be shared with others as appropriate, and may be included in documentation available for public review. Personal information will only be used/ disclosed in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. 

Comments must be received within the comment period, which expires on Monday, September 30th, 2019. 

 

For more information about this project, please contact: 

John Nolan, Sr. Negotiator or Morgan Horne, Associate Negotiator 

Ministry of Indigenous Affairs 

160 Bloor Street E., Suite 920 

Toronto, ON M7A 2E6 

416-327-9582 

OFNGardenIslands@Ontario.ca

 It is now in the comment phase and is open to the public. “The negotiating team is undertaking public consultations to ensure that the variety of municipal, private and public interests are taken into consideration during the negotiation process,” states the meeting notice.

A public meeting was originally scheduled for August 3rd, 2019 but is now Saturday August 31, 2019. Held at the Kenora Recreation Centre, Rotary Room (18 Mike Richards Way) from 2-4pm and 6-8pm. A question period will follow after a presentation at each meeting time. 

If you wish to make a comment on the land claim (whether or not you can attend), the period closes September 30, 2019. You can write or phone the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs at the info below to add your input.  

 

For more information, please contact:

Ontario Ministry of Indigenous Affairs
John Nolan, Sr. Negotiator or Morgan Horne, Associate Negotiator – (416) 327-9582 Media Calls, Flavia Mussio – (416) 326-1853

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada John Scime, Negotiator – (819) 994-0515
Media Calls – (819) 953-1160

Obashkaandagaang First Nation
Media Calls, Chief Marilyn Sinclair – (807) 543-2532


 September 12, 2019