“The McGuinty government’s failure to undertake proper consultations with the Ardoch First Nation regarding uranium exploration on their traditional lands has ended with co-chief Robert Lovelace being sentenced to six months in jail and fined $25,000,” said NDP Environment Critic, Peter Tabuns.

“It’s a sad day in Ontario when the McGuinty government stands in contempt of their responsibility to hold meaningful consultations with First Nations on activities affecting their traditional lands, yet it’s First Nation Leaders who suffer the consequences,” said NDP Environment Critic, Peter Tabuns.

On February 15, Ardoch Algonquin co-chiefs, Robert Lovelace and Paula Sherman were convicted of contempt of court for failing to obey two injunctions against the occupation of lands upon which an exploration company, Frontenac Ventures, is carrying out exploration work, including exploratory drilling. Lovelace was issued a six-month jail sentence and a $25,000 fine when he refused to stay away from the uranium exploration site. The subject lands form part of a 25 year-old Algonquin land claim in the area.

“In its mad dash for more nuclear power the McGuinty government failed to consult Ontarians by exempting their nuclear plans from the provincial environmental assessment process, and now they’re failing to undertake meaningful consultations with the Ardoch First Nation while letting a uranium exploration company run roughshod over their rights,” said Tabuns. “Clearly, this is a government committed to the nuclear industry at any cost,” he added.

“There is a very disturbing trend developing across the province whereby the constitutional rights of First Nations are being shamelessly violated by the McGuinty government,” said Tabuns. “New Democrats agree with Amnesty International and others that the McGuinty government must stop breaching its own legal obligations to First Nations,” added Tabuns.

“We need an immediate moratorium on uranium mining in Eastern Ontario so meaningful consultations with the Ardoch First Nation are undertaken and a mutually acceptable resolution is reached,” said Tabuns.