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From Timmins Daily Press

North gets all-season road funds

Trevor Terfloth - Thursday, January 26, 2006

Northern Native leaders are praising a provincial commitment to get the ball rolling on an all-season road to the James Bay Coast.

The Ontario government has promised to invest $38,800 for the first phase of the Mushkegowuk Council’s transportation study, which will obtain input from various communities as to the feasibility and logistics of such an endeavour.

Grand Chief Stan Louttit said the lack of road access has always been an issue and he’s pleased to finally see some action.

“It’s something that has been long outstanding being able to do the work that is required to get the facts,” he said.

“Now we’re able to do that late, mind you but better late than never.”

The partnership for the project includes the First Nation communities of Moose Factory, Fort Albany, Kashechewan and Attawapiskat, as well as the Town of Moosonee.

These areas are connected via a winter road for approximately three months of the year, with air service the only other transportation method the remaining nine months.

The winter road that normally connects coastal communities along the James Bay has only been able to withstand light traffic because of this year’s unseasonably warm weather

Louttit believes the warm weather’s effect on the winter road and various businesses, such as De Beers, may have expedited the government’s announcement.

“That may be a factor,” he said. “They’re not able to get to the site to do the work that they require. What are the options? The options are limited.

“You can’t take things in by air, it’s just too costly. And the summer barge season is just not feasible.”

Northern Development and Mines Minister Rick Bartolucci made the announcement Wednesday in Sudbury on behalf of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC).

He said James Bay communities face unique transportation issues that are amplified by remoteness and prohibitive costs.

However, Bartolucci, who is also the NOHFC chair, doesn’t believe it to be an insurmountable challenge.

“There are many building blocks, including cost-effective transportation, to be put in place for sustainable development in the Far North,” he said.

“Our government believes in working together to strengthen communication and understanding around development opportunities for the benefit of Far North residents.”

MPP Gilles Bisson (NDP Timmins James Bay) called the funding a token gesture, although he admitted it is a good start.

He said he’s been working for a long time with the Mushkegowuk Council and MP Charlie Angus (NDP Timmins-James Bay) to raise awareness for the cause.

“(The funding) is not a bad thing,” said Bisson.

“But basically if the (provincial) government is really serious about ponying up, they should not only provide dollars for the feasibility study, they should be an active participant with both the Mushkegowuk Council and the federal government.”

Bisson feels Ottawa and Queen’s Park need to commit to a timeline for the project, saying that will ensure the wheels stay in motion.

Like Louttit, Bisson feels the mild temperatures played a role in capturing the government’s attention.

“It’s a blessing in disguise, in a funny way,” he said.

“It’s making the rationale for a road that much more important.”

However, Bisson said it isn’t just First Nations who stand to benefit from increased access.

He said the province’s entire economy could see a dramatic boost.

“What we have learned in the history of Ontario is that whenever we have built roads or railways into areas that we have not done so before, it has led to the ability of people to go up and do mining exploration and take a look at other business opportunities that have basically paid the province back big time,” he said.

“When they built the Ontario Northland Railway, it was because of that we found the silver mines of Cobalt and the gold mines of Timmins and Kirkland Lake.”