The Metis Nation of Ontario and the Municipality of Greenstone want to work together to bring jobs and prosperity to their region.
On Thursday the two organizations signed a memorandum of understanding to create a collaborative relationship when it comes to economic development in the Greenstone area.
Greenstone mayor Renald Beaulieu said the agreement is important not only because of the number of Metis people living in the area, but also because of projects like the Ring of Fire and Premier Gold.
“All these projects are key to us and key to the Metis First Nation. So the face we’re able to now consult with the First Nations in the way that we have an agreement in place, it makes them understand and us understand the importance,” he said.
Beaulieu said it also makes both organizations more prepared when meeting with the provincial and federal governments.
“We have an agreement in place that will say we have the same reasons to be here,” he said, adding the agreement will benefit not just Greenstone, but the entire province.
“We could be used as an example moving forward that we need to sign these agreements so we’ll be able to consult in a fair way,” said Beaulieu.
For the Metis Nation of Ontario, president Gary Lipinski said the agreement is a step forward on advancing relationships with municipalities and Metis communities.
The agreement has been in the works for about two years and Lipinski said it involves respectful relationships and having an open dialogue with the municipality.
“So often in the past we’ve seen things unfold in communities, in regions and areas where Metis people or First Nation people are told of it or find out after the fact. This relationship talks about working collaborative prior to them being developed or as they’re developing and getting involved in those discussions from the onset,” said Lipinski.
The Metis Nation has already seen success after Greenstone invited them to an economic development symposium last year. Lipinski said they met some large industry leaders and as a result have submitted some proposals.
“I can tell you we had fruitful discussions in that dialogue already and certainly those are the types of things that create jobs in our communities in the north and move things forward,” he said.
