The Dominion - Megan Hughes

Blockade Gates

hillarybain — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 11:24:57 +0000

The blockade was erected in the summer of 2007 to stop Frontenac Ventures from drilling for uranium on unceded First Nations territory.

Sharbot Lake

dru — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 22:10:47 +0000

An Algonquin protester occupies the site of a planned uranium mine.

Uranium: Rising Storm

dru — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 21:28:10 +0000

The aim of the peaceful protest, demonstrators say, is to remain in the mining base camp until Dalton McGuinty calls a moratorium on uranium mining in Ontario. Many local councils have already passed resolutions against uranium mining through their own channels.

When Ottawa finally makes its move, those opposed to uranium mining worry that it may be all rain or all shine for Frontenac County, for Ottawa, for Kingston and all of the other towns and cities within uranium dust-blowing distance.

Uranium: top of the mine building

dru — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 21:23:24 +0000

The Algonquins have told the court that they will not participate in the injunction orders. Citing Ipperwash and Oka as examples, the Algonquins state that injunctions do not take the place of discussion. They have invited the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs to come and speak to them. As of this writing, this visit has not happened.

Frontenac Ventures Corp. has filed papers to sue the Algonquins and their supporters for $77 million dollars in "projected losses." They have also offered the government a way out of this issue: The mining company is willing to sell their staked land and business prospects in the area to the government. The starting price? $80 million. The Algonquins are planning to counter-sue both the mining company and the government for misuse of traditional lands.

Uranium: The gate

dru — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 21:21:23 +0000

Anti-uranium signs dot the tree-filled landscape in Frontenac County.

The issue is regularly reported in the local paper, The Frontenac News. Some papers in Kingston and Ottawa have also covered the mining controversy.

Greenpeace and the Christian Peacemaker Team have joined in the cause. Most recently Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party, has spoken out against uranium mining in Ontario, and in support of this protest.

A judge from the provincial Superior Court in Kingston has served two injunctions, telling the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) to remove protesters and supporters if they deem removal to be necessary. The OPP have been seen in the area regularly, but have yet to make any moves toward removing protesters. The OPP claim that their stance as moderators and peacekeepers has not allowed them to arrest or remove any protesters to date.

Uranium: Inside the gate

dru — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 21:19:21 +0000

Locals who support the Algonquins have camped at the site or have dropped by to show support. They have brought food, water and fuel to the protesters. The temporary camp put up by the Algonquins is becoming permanent.

Efforts are now underway to ensure that, if necessary, the Algonquin protesters can remain at the site throughout the winter season. Donations of food and money for legal fees are being collected toward this goal.

Uranium: Not in my backyard

dru — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 21:16:01 +0000

The Canadian Shield is in the immediate vicinity of cities lying to the south of Highway 7 (Kington, Belleville, Frontenac), as well as Ottawa. Many protesters and locals are asking: how small does Ottawa think its backyard is?

Uranium: settlers camp

dru — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 21:13:48 +0000

Uranium: Locals support Algonquin

dru — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 21:11:38 +0000

Locals who have had their land staked by the corporation, as well as supporters from many other areas, have been a presence outside the base camp gate.

Only the aboriginal groups enter the base camp, which they claim is their land to do with as they please. Settlers, though they may own land, cannot make the same claim as the Algonquins to mining sites and subsurface land rights. The settlers and tourists alike are, for the majority, supporting the Algonquins in their protest; the only alternative is to adhere to the present mining laws, which have not been revised since their inception in 1870. Both the Algonquins and the settlers have been attempting to have their voices heard in Parliament; they want a moratorium of this outdated mining law.

Uranium: Wake Up

dru — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 21:08:35 +0000

On June 29th, 2007, a day of National Aboriginal Protests, the Ardoch Algonquins began to occupy the site where Frontenac Ventures had set up its base camp. The base camp site, now the protest site, is north of Highway 7, up Road 509 about 10 kilometres, near the town of Sharbot Lake. The AFFNA and Shabot bands have remained at the site ever since, in protest of mining activity.

On September 24, 2007, John Tory, leader of the Conservative party, announced via the media that as part of his new election platform he would like to see a “fine for anyone occupying land that is not owned by them, in the amount of $2500.00 per day.” It is assumed that he was referring in part to the Frontenac uranium protest, but again the issue was not brought to the forefront by the politicians themselves.

Uranium: AAFNA Flag

dru — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 21:07:50 +0000

The Ardoch Algonquin First Nation and the Shabot Obaadijiwan First Nation, both local to Frontenac County, came together to present a united front against uranium mining.

They say that the subsurface rights in the area (all land below the surface) belong to them via a land claim which reaches back to 1772. The mining company argues that the subsurface rights are Crown land, for which the law says mining is allowed by anyone who legally stakes it, according to the Ontario mining law of 1870.

Frontenac Ventures has staked about 30,000 acres for mining, including both Crown land and privately owned land. The current mining law states that the company can stake subsurface land anywhere, no matter who owns it. The company’s exploration process includes the digging of trenches and holes, the cutting of trees and taking out any obstacles to the mining exploration, including roads owned by the township. So far there have been 70 land parcels of at least one hectare each staked in Frontenac county for the purposes of uranium exploration. Landowners in the area have no workable solution.

But there is one exception: an unsettled Aboriginal claim can supercede the mining law.

Uranium: Baby

dru — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 21:06:55 +0000

If Frontenac Ventures has its way, it will drill for uranium samples which many say will spoil the land, air, and water for the thousands of local residents, cottagers and tourists. The company’s staked land encompasses a large part of North and Central Frontenac, a watershed region that is linked to Ottawa via the Mississippi River.

Once exposed to the open air, uranium dust can travel for thousands of kilometres. Uranium tailings (waste left behind after mining) are radioactive, and remain so for millions of years. The company plans to use one of the local lakes to "bury" the tailings left over from uranium exploration and mining. In this Land ‘O’ Lakes, each lake connects to the next, up to the Mississippi River, which connects to the Ottawa River.

To date, Parliament has made no statements about the mining project. Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, demonstrators say, has the power to call an immediate moratorium on uranium mining in Ontario. To the chagrin of many local residents, McGuinty has not spoken to the issue of uranium mining.

Uranium: Lake

dru — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 21:05:47 +0000

Welcome to Frontenac County.