Algonquin Land Claim and the Economics of Fishing in Canada

Transcription

1 Algonquin Land Claim and the Economics of Fishing in Canada

2 Recrea=onal Fishing = Big Business Coast to Coast to Coast $8.3 Billion Annual Economic Impact 8 Million Canadian Anglers We Fish. We Hunt. We Vote. Over 100,000 Jobs (fishing & hun=ng)

3 Recrea9onal Fishing in Canada More people fish than play golf & hockey combined. Canadians spend as much every year to go fishing as they do on beer.

4 Recrea9onal Fishing in Canada Associated economies include; Tourism Boats and Engines, other watercrah ATV s, Snowmobiles Trucks & SUV s Hun9ng ( Common Retailers and Government policy / natural resource agencies)

5 Recrea9onal Fishing in Ontario 46% of na9onal market $4 Billion annually Hun9ng adds $1.8 Billion a year in Ontario Over 3.6 million anglers of all ages Eastern Ontario is a major rec fishing region with na9onal economic significance

6 MNR Counts license sales We count customers The 8 million Canadians who fish come from all ages and abili9es, all racial and ethnic backgrounds, all poli9cal par9es, male and female, and every income level.

7 Recrea9onal Fishing Economy in the Algonquin Land Claim Region Generates an annual economy of $699 million. Supports 8,278 jobs. Algonquin Park and the en9re region is a major rec fishing des9na9on for residents and visitors.

8 The recrea9onal fishing and hun9ng economy relies on: Healthy fish & wildlife popula9ons. Science based natural resource management, harvest limits and environmentally sustainable use. Public access to land and water. Fish and wildlife Law enforcement. Responsible government policy with conserva9on as priority.

9 The Algonquin Land Claim Process Trust us We re From the Government Over 20 years and over $20 million dollars brought to you by Ontario and Canada. If you don t know where you re going, you might end up someplace else. Yogi Berra

10 The Return on Investment What government wants you to believe and what actually happened Ontario and Canada Statement of Shared Objec9ves: We intend to con9nue to consult with interested par9es throughout the nego9a9on process and to keep the public informed on the progress of nego9a9ons. We intend to avoid crea9ng injus9ces for anyone in the sehlement of the claim. Signed by Ontario, Canada and the Algonquins, 1994 & 2006

11 What government is saying and what actually happened What actually happened : For years stakeholder groups like CSIA were told by Ontario there was no progress in the nego9a9ons due to internal problems the Algonquins were having and therefore nothing to discuss with us or to consult about. When Ontario and Canada announced to stakeholders in November 2011 that significant progress was being made and the AIP was virtually completed, no specifics could be discussed as the land claim nego9a9ons were confiden9al.

12 What government is saying and what actually happened Ontario MNR Minister Cansfield leher to CSIA - June 10, 2009 Once formal nego9a9ons toward an Agreement- in- Principle begin, Ontario will pursue appropriate consulta9on with our stakeholders to ensure their interests are fully explored These efforts will include direct discussion with CSIA as a member of Ontario s Commihee of External Advisors on the Algonquin Land Claim.

13 So what actually happened? January 23, 2012 CSIA leher to Ontario Aboriginal Affairs Minister Kathleen Wynne reminding her of Minster Cansfields commitment on behalf of Ontario. September 11, 2012 Leher to CSIA Ontario is honouring its commitments to provide relevant informa9on and conduct consulta9on Minister Kathleen Wynne Present Day 2013 No stakeholder forum for credible and accountable consulta9on was established by Ontario or Canada and no substan9ve consulta9on with CSIA has ever taken place.

14 What government is saying and what actually happened Ontario and Canada Statement of Shared Objec9ves: We intend to enhance the economic opportuni9es of the Algonquins with the inten9on of also benefi9ng and promo9ng general economic and commercial opportuni9es in the area. Signed by Ontario, Canada and the Algonquins, 1994 & 2006

15 So what actually happened? January, CSIA formally recommends Ontario and Canada hire professional consultants for standard business Market Assessment Review for land claim region. Purpose to evaluate regional economic opportuni9es / piralls prior to drahing an AIP. MNR conducted extensive Market Assessment Reviews in the region in the 1980 s using the same approach with extensive results.

16 So how important are jobs and economy in the Algonquin Land Claim Process? Present Day 2013 Ontario regrets budget is not available for an economic Market Assessment Review. Canada - No reply from Chief Federal Nego9ator to our January 2012 CSIA leher. Agreement in Principle does not contain any men9on of jobs or economic opportuni9es for the Algonquins or anyone else.

17 How about fish and wildlife conserva9on & fishing and hun9ng?

18 What government is saying and what actually happened There are similari9es between the Algonquin comprehensive land claim and comprehensive land claims in other jurisdic9ons. Ontario is aware of, and is drawing from, the experiences and best prac9ces gained in those other jurisdic9ons. MNR Minister Cansfield June, 2009

19 What examples of best prac9ces for fishing and hun9ng exist in other jurisdic9ons? Detailed species specific Fish & Wildlife harvest allocabon, fair sharing, management and conservabon details exist in other land claim agreements including: Tsawwassen First Na9on, B.C. Maa- Nulth First Na9on, B.C. Kwanlin- Dun First Na9on, Yukon

20 Was addi9onal input provided to the Algonquin land claim nego9ators on fish and wildlife issues? Absolutely! In spite of no credible consulta9on process, exhaus9ve input was provided from fish & wildlife professionals to Ontario and Canada in wrihen and video format by : CSIA OFAH re9red senior MNR biologists and managers.

21 So has Ontario adopted these best prac9ces for the Algonquin Agreement? No input from fish and wildlife professionals at OFAH, CSIA or others was adopted into the AIP. No successful examples from other First NaBon agreements were applied. Ontario, Canada and MNR have said detailed fish and wildlife harvest and fair sharing agreements are not possible in the Algonquin AIP as they do not exist elsewhere

22 So what actually happened? AIP Chapter 8 Fish and Wildlife Harvest Applies to En9re land claim region 1/7 th of Ontario No closed seasons for harvesbng any species of fish or wildlife. (Moose / Elk only excepbon) No bag or creel limits for any species. No restricbons on gear or method of harvest. Unlimited trade and barter in fish and game. No law enforcement as there is nothing to enforce. The AIP SancBons outlaw behavior and overharvest.

23 Only 2 Allocated Species Moose & Elk listed as Allocated Species. MNR Minister and Algonquins will determine Total Allowable Harvest allocabons. Considera9on of other hunters or not, is at discre9on of the Minister. More closed door decision making excluding the public. No Fair Sharing requirements in AIP. No other fish or wildlife species listed. Greater economic uncertainty for hun9ng businesses.

24 Our Return on Tax dollars spent AHer 20 years and over $20 million public dollars wasted by Ontario and Canada: No considerabon for jobs & economy for Algonquins or anyone else. No accountable or credible public or stakeholder consultabon as promised for 20 years by Ontario and Canada. Only informa9on released to public by government was aher decisions had been made in secret.

25 Our Return on Tax dollars spent No finality or certainty with several other overlapping land claims emerging. No representa9on for stakeholder or public interests in land claim nego9a9on process. Fish & wildlife harvest reverts to the prac9ces of the 19 th century where anything goes.

26 Our Return on Tax dollars spent No transparency for public funds spent for land claim process. Algonquin people misled about economic opportuni9es where few may actually exist. Premier Kathleen Wynne ( as Minister) failed to honor Cabinet level commitments to CSIA.

27 We Fish. We Hunt. We Vote. At the end of the day in the land claim process, anglers and hunters will get what they sehle for, and therefore we will deserve what we get. Rick Amsbury Former Execu9ve Director, Canadian Sporrishing Industry Associa9on