CRISIS AT BARRIERE LAKE
The Algonquins of Barriere Lake are requesting urgent and immediate
support.
On February 12, 1993 the Government of Quebec unilaterally
suspended budgets, and has threatened to unilaterally terminate, its
participation in the Trilateral Agreement, signed on August 22, 1991,
between the Governments of Canada, Quebec and the Algonquins of
Barriere Lake. This flies in the face of the Report of the Mediator,
Judge Rejean Paul of the Quebec Superior Court, who said the Trilateral
Agreement is a "treaty" or "solemn agreement" which cannot be
unilaterally terminated.
The Agreement aims to develop an integrated resource management
plan for forests and wildlife over 10,000 sq. km. of traditional
Algonquin territory, and is based on the principles of conservation,
sustainable development, and the protection of the livelihood and way
of life of the Algonquin people. It also includes a plan for "interim
protection" of sensitive zones. The Algonquins' technicians have
demanded a 60 metre buffer zone around bodies of water.
Since the signing of the accord, there have been disputes between
the federal and provincial governments and the Algonquins over
the implementation of the accords. These differences led to the
appointment of Quebec Superior Court Judge, Rejean Paul as Mediator
to the dispute in August 1992. Judge Paul issued his report on
September 12, 1992. The mediator's report clearly found the
governments of Quebec and Canada in breach of the Trilateral
Agreement.
Nevertheless -- and despite promises to abide by the Agreement --
the Quebec government continues to be obstructive, and in particular
refuses to respect the 60 metre buffer zones.
Consequently, on February 3, 1993, the Algonquins intervened to
stop clear cutting in a buffer zone around a lake at the Kondiaronk site,
until a meeting could be held with Quebec. They did not stop forestry
operations, they only acted to protect buffer zones from the
clear-cut that is taking place at the Lake Kondiaronk cutting site, so
there would be still something to negotiate. If they did not the zones
would have been cut before negotiations could take place. Yet the
Quebec government threatened to terminate the Agreement
altogether.
Quebec did not respond to a compromise plan submitted by the
Algonquins. On February 12, 1993, the Chief was simply summoned
by Quebec Native Affairs Minister, Christos Sirros, to a meeting in
Hull, Quebec, and given the ultimatum: "accept Quebec's proposal
or the Trilateral Agreement is suspended." The Chief was not given
details about what was specifically not acceptable to Quebec. Instead,
Mr. Sirros held a press conference immediately after meeting with
the Chief, and informed the media that "the parties have not been
able to agree on the size of the buffer zones on water bodies and on
hunting issues".
Send letters to the Premier of Quebec, Robert Bourassa, urging him
to respect the spirit and the terms of the Agreement and continue
negotiating with the Algonquins of Barriere Lake. Premier Robert
Bourassa, Quebec National Assembly, Quebec, (Quebec),
tel. 514-747-2723, fax 418-643-3924