MNO President Tony Belcourt and Minister of Natural Resources, the Hon. Donna Cansfield during a tour of the MNO Registry, December 21, 2007.

Friday December 21, 2007 marked a historic day for the Metis Nation of Ontario. The Hon. Donna Cansfield, Ontario Minister of Natural Resources met with the MNO Executive at MNO headquarters, something that has never been done before.

This meeting signals the beginning of a new era in the MNO/MNR relationship, one that comes after years of litigation over the Metis right to hunt and fish for food. It comes at a time when the Government of Ontario has decided not to appeal our last court victory in R v. Lemieux, Lemieux and Laurin. The MNR is now honoring the MNO/MNR Harvesting Agreement, which was entered into in 2004.

One purpose of the meeting was to brief the Minister on the Métis Nation of Ontario. The MNO wants to provide the Minister with an understanding of who we are, where we are coming from, the basis of our rights and the obligations of governments. She was informed on the MNO structure, communities and how our people go about their daily lives – what is important to them from preservation of their livelihoods to preservation of the environment. The Minister toured the MNO Registry and was briefed on our many interests concerning her Ministry, not just those relating to enforcement issues but others including our interests in natural resources.The overall objective was to encourage the Minister and her officials to think “outside the box”. This was an important opportunity to provide the Minister with a personal understanding of Metis issues and concerns from our perspective. This meeting is seen as key to setting a positive agenda for going forward and to obtaining her commitment to follow through with the MNO in the manner that is required of her and the “honor of the crown”.

Also in attendance at the briefing were MNO Chair and Deputy Chief Captain of the Hunt, Gary Lipinski; MNO Vice-Chair, France Picotte; MNO Executive Director, Pete Lefebvre; Director of Health Services, Doug Wilson, and MNO Senior Policy Advisor, Hank Rowlinson.

CONTACT:
Chelsey Quirk
Communications Assistant
Work: 613-798-1488 Ext. 104
Cell: 613-299-6085