Canadian Press reports that several ontario aboriginal communities are seeking legal action to stop provincial power contracts to hydro dams on their traditional lands. The Anishinaabe Nation is concerned that the contracts will have adverse effects on aboriginal and treaty rights and is asking an ontario court to set them aside. They want a review over what they say was a failure to consult and accommodate treaty harvesting rights by the government in developing the contracts. They claim the ministry of energy acted dishonourably by ignoring their claims, rights and jurisdiction.
The group also notes communities in the area are becoming difficult to manage, in part because of the cost of home heating and electricity, even though there are large hydro-electric generating dams within the territory.
The complaint is related to five northwest ontario hydro generating plants: Calm Lake, Sturgeon Falls, Fort Frances, Kenora, and Norman hydroelectric generating station.