An accident Dec. 2 on Highway 11, south of Ramore, Ont., involved a 40-year-old Fort Albany man.
South Porcupine OPP – Matheson Detachment officers are completing their investigation into the multi-vehicle collision involving two passenger vehicles - a mini-van and a tractor trailer, which occurred at approximately 12:10 p.m. on Dec. 2.
A 45-year-old Kirkland Lake man, driving a 1995 Mercury Sable allegedly lost control while passing other northbound vehicles and collided with 2002 Chevrolet Venture minivan driven by a 40-year-old man from Fort Albany and a 2003 Ford Focus driven by a 37-year-old man from North Bay. A 2005 Freightliner tractor trailer unit, driven by a 37-year-old Calgary, Alta resident, sustained minor front end damage as a result of the collision.
The drivers of the passenger vehicles and the minivan were brought to Bingham Memorial Hospital by ambulance for medical treatment. The Kirkland Lake man suffered serious injuries while the other drivers sustained minor injuries.
The investigation into the collision is ongoing. OPP Technical Traffic Collision Investigators are in the midst of completing their investigation as well. To date, no charges have been laid.
Save Our Legacy protest
a national protest to Save Our Legacy was held Dec. 5 on Parliament Hill by the Chiefs of Ontario and Assembly of First Nations.
“First Nation’s poverty is Canada’s shame,” said Assembly of First Nations Ontario Regional Chief Angus Toulouse. “We live in a country that is rated the sixth best in the world in which we live, according to the United Nations Human Development Index. Yet First Nations citizens live predominantly in impoverished conditions without the basics such as clean water and safe homes.”
“This rally is to underscore that First Nations people are here to stay, and that we will not remain out of sight and out of mind,” he said. “We want what all people want for our children - good health, safety, education and equal opportunity. We will not accept less.”
National Chief Phil Fontaine says First Nation poverty is the greatest social justice issue in Canada today.
“For this reason, and to raise awareness for all Canadians and politicians, we recently launched Make Poverty History: The First Nations Plan for Creating Opportunity. Some 12,000 Canadians have signed our online petition,” he said.
The rally will also call for the implementation of recommendations in the 10-year-old Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples; implementation of the Kelowna Accord; as well as reinstatement of last month’s $160 million in Aboriginal language funding cuts.
AFN responds to motion
Last week, prime minister Stephan Harper introduced a motion to recognize Quebec as a nation within a united Canada, which passed with a vote of 266-16.
Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine has since sent out a letter to Members of Parliament on the topic. In it he asks for MP’s ‘to positively affirm and place on record their recognition of the unique status and rights that First Nations have in Quebec and throughout Canada as the first peoples to inhabit, develop and govern themselves on their lands and as distinct and vital nations unto this day.’
“The fact that both the federalist and separatist parties in Quebec now subscribe to the Motion gives rise to concern that it is being understood in very different ways, and that it is open to too many competing uses and misuses in the future. Under no circumstances should the recognition of the Quebecois be achieved by putting the historical and constitutional status of First Nations at risk,” said Fontaine in the letter.
“Therefore, with great respect, the Assembly of First Nations suggests that the words underlined above ought to become part of the record in Hansard to ensure that all future uses of the Motion are respectful of First Nations and in order that the record of the parliamentary debate should forthrightly characterize the Motion in a way that provides all concerned, including First Nations, a reasonable measure of clarity and comfort.”
Not all First Nations are questioning the motion. The Metis Nation leadership has offered its support in recognizing Quebecois as a nation within a strong and united Canada.
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