Owen Sound, Ontario: The Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) and the MNO Georgian Bay Traditional Territory Consultation Committee signed a five year Memorandum of Understanding with Ontario Power Generation on July 21. The MOU outlines the process for continued consultation that will be followed between the MNO and OPG for the Deep Geologic Repository for low and intermediate level waste and OPG’s nuclear waste operations in Kincardine, Ontario.
“This agreement is very important to Métis people,” explained MNO Chair France Picotte, “because it guarantees that Métis rights will be protected and the Métis Way of Life in the Georgian Bay will be respected. We are pleased to continue working with Ontario Power Generation. Agreements like this one are another benefit that we see coming from the MNO-Ontario Framework Agreement, which was first signed in 2008 and which was renewed this year,” she added.
The MOU sets out the way in which the local Métis community, as represented by the MNO’s Georgian Bay Traditional Territory Consultation Committee and the Community Councils that are part of the committee, will be consulted regarding the development of the project and details on how the parties will work together to address any potential impacts the project may have on Métis rights, interests and way of life.