Primrose Settlement Deal Still Not Finalized

Primrose Settlement Deal Still Not Finalized

Friday, September 01, 2006 at 15:31

The chairman of the Primrose Lake Air Weapons Range Settlement Committee says he’s confident a $19-million settlement package is on the way.

Alex Maurice says that’s despite the fact the communities of Jans Bay and Cole Bay decided to leave the bargaining process in favour of legal action against the government.

Those communities are now reportedly unhappy over the level of consultation they have received through the negotiation process.

Maurice is encouraging them to come back to the bargaining table, but says they can go their own way, as well.

He says the settlement he’s working on just needs the attention of Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice or Western Economic Diversification Minister Carol Skelton.

Maurice says, after that, some signatures are all that’s required.

The settlement deal was announced in 2004 by the federal and provincial governments for Metis communities on the West Side that had been adversely affected by the creation of the weapons range back in the 1950s.