Following is a letter from the Chippewas of Nawash at Cape Croker, on the
Bruce Peninsula, to any environment, aboriginal or other group that supports
a full environmental assessment of a land development project occurring in
their area. Please read it carefully, and send a letter of support to the
address provided if you can. This letter was posted online by the Ontario
Environment Network, for the Chippewas of Nawash. If there is a conference
better suited to this type of information, please inform us. Scott Black
Re: Proposed development on Hay Island in Georgian Bay
Dear Supporter,
At our network meeting in November, David McLaren discussed a proposed
development on Hay Island. Bruce County has amended its Official Plan to
permit construction of a planned 98 unit condominium and central marina on
the north shore of Hay Island. The amendment now requires approval by the
Minister of Municipal Affairs, Hon. Ed Phillips. This is a development that
will occupy 100 acres of the 1,600 acre island. The island itself is adjacent
to the Chippewas of Nawash reserve at Cape Croker (Neyaashiinigmiing) and
within the seven-mile limit which Judge Fairgrieve, in his decision on
Jones-Nadjiwon, found to be the commercial fishing grounds of the Nawash and
Saugeen First Nations. The judge also suggested the First Nations may have
sole commercial fishing rights in areas adjacent to the reserves. Issues of
jurisdiction over the fishery have yet to be sorted out between the MNR and
the First Nations.
The First Nations have three major concerns about
this project:
1. Concern for fish habitat.
No assessment has been done on the impact on fish spawning habitat around
Hay Island, although there will be increased boat traffic with its attendant
gas and waste spills, and risk of pollution from sewage treatment facilities
on the island. To date, the MNR has not indicated that an assessment done
before the amendment is approved. Obviously this kind of development will
have some effect on fish habitat and that will have an impact on the
security of the First Nations' access to food and livelihood. Dr. Stephen
Crawford, a fisheries biologist affiliated with the University of Guelph who
is working with the First Nations now, urges an assessment on fish spawning
habitat be done before the amendment is granted.
2. Concern for the land base.
Dr. Douglas Larson is a botanist from the University of Guelph and director
of the Cliff Ecology Research Group. He discovered the underwater forest
near Colpoy's Bay and the ancient cedar forests on the cliffs of the Niagara
Escarpment. He is adding his recommendation to the Ministry of Municipal
Affairs that no development proceed at least until an inventory of the flora
and fauna on Hay Island is done.
3. Concern for the archaeological resources on the site, especially the
reported presence of a burial ground on the north end of the island. In our
documentation is a letter from Neal Ferris, Regional Archaeologist for the
Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Recreation stating the archaeological
importance of this site. On November 23, 1994, the Minister of Environment
and Energy received a request to designate Official Plan Amendment 62 under
the Environmental Assessment Act (EA Act). Staff at the Environmental
Assessment Branch are now investigating this matter. They expect to make a
recommendation to the Minister on whether to require a full environmental
assessment by mid- February.
The more voices added to those advocating a full environmental assessment
the better the chances for a positive recommendation. Letter urging the
Minister to designate the development under the EA Act should be sent by the
end of January to the following address:
Derek Doyle
Director
Environmental Assessment Branch
Ministry of Environment and Energy
250 Davisville Ave.
Toronto, ON
M4S 1H2
Fax: 416-440-3771
note: cite file # 47768
Please send me a copy of your letter for our file. If you have any
questions do not hesitate to call my office.
Thank you for your continuing support.
With warm regards,
Darlene Johnston
Land Claims Research Coordinator
519-534-2687
519-534-2130fx