Posted By SARAH DEETH
Sept 22, 2007
Peterborough Examiner
The ongoing First Nations blockade at a proposed uranium mine at Sharbot Lake, two hours east of Peterborough, is sparking a reaction from some local candidates.
Peterborough Green Party candidate Miriam Stucky has expressed full support for the Ardoch Algonquin and Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nations groups who are opposing the mining.
The blockade has been in place since June 29, preventing the company Frontenac Ventures from prospecting for uranium, citing environmental and land-ownership concerns.
Frontenac Ventures is seeking a way to force the protesters and their supporters to leave the site.
It's suing the Algonquins for $77 million, claiming it has been prevented from working the property since June 29, placing substantial financial backing in jeopardy.
The First Nation groups on Tuesday filed a statement of defence against Frontenac Ventures' claim and a $10-million cross claim naming the company and the government of Ontario.
"There's no need to be mining for uranium," Stucky said. "It's dangerous, dangerous stuff."
Though Sharbot Lake is not within her riding, Stucky said the issue will have an affect on the area.
"They're well within our region and our watershed systems are linked," she said.
Progressive Conservative candidate Bruce Fitzpatrick said he was taking no stance on the issue.
"It's not in our riding," Fitzpatrick said.
Dave Nickle, the local NDP candidate, said he's supporting the First Nations' struggle.
"With what's going on at Caledonia, our government has to step up to the plate," Nickle said.
Nickle said he'd hate to see someone hurt as a result of the blockade.
"What the First Nations groups are doing is protecting us," he said. The issue is an environmental one, he said, and the NDP doesn't believe in using nuclear energy.
Liberal incumbent Jeff Leal declined to take a side but encouraged both parties to sit down and work the situation out.
"My view is that we always work these things out through negotiations," he said.
Paul Morgan, the Family Coalition candidate, said he also wasn't going to pick sides.
He wants to see the situation resolved, he said, but that involves both sides sitting down and communicating.