THUNDER BAY -- Plans for community relations and reconciliation summit meeting in Thunder Bay, first announced in June by MP Don Rusnak, have yet to move past the discussion stage.
Rusnak called a news conference in June where he announced that the summit would bring local and regional Indigenous, municipal, provincial and federal representatives together along with Thunder Bay Police and other community organizations and stakeholders.
At the time, the Liberal member for Thunder Bay-Rainy River said he didn't believe Thunder Bay was in a state of crisis. "I think there's a lot of issues here but there are a lot of issues right across the country. The media likes to focus on the negative sometimes and I want to shift that, and let's focus on the positive and what we can do to make sure the negative doesn't happen," he said.
Rusnak said he hoped the summit would take place in late July or early August.
Arrangements for the conference have not been completed as yet.
In an interview on Saturday, Rusnak said the situation has "evolved" since his June announcement.
"The City of Thunder Bay, Fort William First Nation, NAN and Grand Council Treaty 3 are moving forward. I'm there in a support role, supporting them in any asks they have, asking for any government officials or any federal ministers or parliamentary secretaries they may want at the summit."
Rusnak added that as a lot of groups become involved, things become more complex.
"There's a lot of work to do in this city. There's a lot of issues. We want to make sure we get it right...We want to make sure we have all the partners at the table."
He said he had spoken with several parties about the summit, including Fort William First Nation Chief Peter Collins, Thunder Bay City Manager Norm Gale, and MPPs Bill Mauro and Michael Gravelle.
"How it comes together, that's not a decision for me, but all the partners. So we're continuing discussions...When it happens, it will happen in the right way."
