MNS Ruffling Feathers With Roadblock Plans
Friday, February 04, 2005 at 13:42
A number of northern municipal leaders are calling on the Metis Nation of Saskatchewan to abandon their planned roadblocks on a northern highway next week.
The Metis organization wants companies like Cameco to consult with the MNS before extracting resources in the Metis land claim area.
The MNS also wants a meeting with the premier over the province’s refusal to recognize the organization’s current executive.
But Pinehouse village councillor Greg Ross says the Metis group is acting without the blessing of the communities the protests will affect the most.
Ross says the village council doesn’t support this action because of the potential consequences it could have on contractors and company employees in Pinehouse.
Buffalo Narrows Mayor Bobby Woods is upset that average Metis citizens from the North could be thrown out of work to support the cause of Metis politicians.
Ile-a-la-Crosse Mayor Max Morin says Cameco has already been in contact with officials at the development corporation in Ile-a-la-Crosse, warning them about what this could mean for mine workers from that community.
Morin says he doesn’t support the planned MNS protest or the reasons behind it, but he’s also not happy Cameco is applying pressure on groups not directly involved in the dispute.
Meanwhile, officials at Cameco are not ruling out seeking a court injunction to prevent planned roadblocks of a northern highway next week.
Spokesman Lyle Krahn says the MNS plan to block sections of Highway 165 could seriously affect operations at Key Lake and McArthur River if it’s allowed to proceed.
Krahn says, for that reason, asking the courts to intervene is a definitely possibility.