Harvesting Negotiations with the Ontario Government
A Basic Overview

1993 - Steve and Roddy Powley are charged by Conservation Officers for hunting moose without a license and unlawful possession of moose contrary to Ontario’s Game and Fish Act. Read Powley stories here

1998 - Trial judge ruled that the Powley's have a Métis right to hunt that is protected by s. 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.  The charges were dismissed, but the Crown (Ontario Government) appeals the decision. Read Powley stories here

2000 - Ontario Superior Court of Justice confirmed the trial decision and dismissed the Crown’s appeal. The Crown (Ontario Government) appeals the decision to the Ontario Court of Appeal. Read Powley stories here

2001 - Court of Appeal unanimously upheld the earlier decisions and confirmed that the Powley's have an Aboriginal right to hunt as Métis. The Crown (Ontario Government) then appeals to the Supreme Court of Canada. Read Powley stories here

2003 - Supreme Court of Canada, in a unanimous judgment, said that the Powley's, as members of the Sault Ste Marie Métis community, can exercise a Métis right to hunt that is protected by s. 35. The Crown (Ontario Government) cannot appeal the ruling any higher. The Supreme Court urges all Provincial governments to make Harvesting agreements with the Métis Nation. Read Powley stories here

2004 - The MNO and the Ontario Government reach agreement on a Harvesting Policy for Métis Citizens in Ontario. Read stories from 2004 here

2005 - The Ontario Government fails to uphold the agreement that they agreed and signed themselves into. The MNR begins to charge MNO Harvesters, protected by the binding Harvesting Agreement that the Ontario Government and it's agency ignore. Read stories from 2005 here

2006 - The R v. Laurin, Lemieux and Lemieux Métis Harvesting case is brought before another Ontario court as the Crown is trying to press charges against MNO Harvestors ... again. Read stories from 2006 here

2007 - The Ontario Court of Justice rules that the historic harvesting agreement entered into by the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) in 2004 is legally binding on the Government of Ontario and that the laying of charges by the MNR against three Métis harvesters violated the terms of that agreement. Read stories from 2007 here