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OTTAWA, ON (July 30, 2007) - Canada's New Government today signed an agreement with Kashechewan First Nation to redevelop a healthy and sustainable community in its present location.
The agreement was signed by the Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non Status Indians, the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health, and Chief Jonathon Solomon of the Kashechewan First Nation.
"This agreement provides the framework for the people of Kashechewan to build a well-functioning, safe and healthy community," said Minister Prentice. "The decision to rebuild on the current site respects the wishes of residents to stay on their traditional land, and makes use of existing infrastructure."
"I am pleased that our Government has negotiated this agreement that will
work towards long-term, sustainable improvements to the lives of all
Kashechewan residents," said Minister Clement. "This process will allow us
to better protect the health and safety of Kashechewan residents by further
improving public health services in the community," added the Minister.
All parties will immediately begin work on a comprehensive community planning and redevelopment process to address priority areas such as: skills development; on-reserve housing; socio-economic sustainability; health programs and facilities; public safety; infrastructure development, remediation and maintenance; and schools and community facilities.
"My community is pleased to be moving forward," said Kashechewan Chief Jonathon Solomon. "We have faced a number of challenges and uncertainty in the past. Working in partnership with the Government of Canada to create a safe and stable environment, we can now look ahead to a brighter future."
A community development working group will prepare, plan, design and implement redevelopment projects to address the short, mid and long-term challenges of the community.
The community has experienced chronic high rates of unemployment, severe shortages of housing and a lack of critical infrastructure.
A steering committee of representatives from Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Health Canada and Kashechewan Chief and Council, led by Patrick Chilton, an independent chair, will oversee the work as it progresses. Mr. Chilton is a member of the Kashechewan First Nation, with extensive involvement in community development in small isolated localities in northern Ontario.
Kashechewan First Nation is an isolated Cree community located approximately 420 kilometres north of Timmins, near the west coast of James Bay.
Memorandum of Agreement and Understanding Between
Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada as represented by the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and the Minister of Health ("Canada")
and the
Kashechewan First Nation
For more information, please contact:
Minister Prentice's Office
Deirdra McCracken
Press Secretary
Office of the Hon. Jim Prentice
(819) 997-0002
Minister Clement's Office
Erik Waddell
Office of the Hon. Tony Clement
(613) 957-0200
Media Relations - INAC
(819) 953-1160
Media Relations - Health Canada
Carole Saindon
(613) 957-1588
Kachechewan First Nation
Chief Jonathon Solomon
(705) 275-4440/4413
