(Ottawa) A first meeting between federal minister Patty Hajdu, Quebec minister Ian Lafrenière and the Grand Chief of the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake, Victor Bonspille, is to be held next week to try to find solutions to the flow of water. toxic substances from the illegal dump located on the territory of the community.
This is what the Minister of Indigenous Services, Patty Hajdu, and the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Steven Guilbeault, said in a joint statement sent Thursday afternoon.
Earlier today, M.me Hajdu had a discussion with the Quebec Minister responsible for First Nations and Inuit Relations, Ian Lafrenière. His office has confirmed that a meeting will be held early next week.
A survey of The Press revealed earlier this week that toxic water was flowing from the G&R Recycling sorting centre. It is owned by brothers Robert and Gary Gabriel, who have ties to organized crime. Members of the community deplore the “lawless zone” it has become and fear reprisals if they dare to speak openly about this illegal dump with toxic leaks.
The federal government, which has been slow to react publicly, recognizes the need for a joint approach with the Government of Quebec, the community of Kanesatake and G&R Recyclage. ” [N]We must work together to find a long-term solution,” said Ministers Hajdu and Guilbeault.
The SQ reacts
The day before, they had called back for an interview at The Press that it is up to the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) to enforce the law on Aboriginal territory. The SQ acknowledged Thursday that it is not always welcome in Kanesatake territory. However, she invites concerned members of the community to break the silence and report any illegal or suspicious activity to her.
“Through the privilege that the Sûreté du Québec holds to serve the community of Kanesatake, we are able to see that this community is made up of citizens who take the public safety of their community seriously,” said its spokesperson, Ann Mathieu. , via email Thursday.
“As is the case elsewhere in Quebec and in rare exceptions, the police officers of the Sûreté du Québec sometimes meet individuals who may be resistant to their presence,” she added.
Kanesatake has been without Peacekeepers since the police station was looted in 2004 and ex-Grand Chief James Gabriel’s house was burned down by criminal elements after he publicly denounced their influence growing. The Sûreté du Québec and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have only been patrolling there since when necessary.
“They are not necessarily welcome for many reasons that you know very well,” Minister Miller said Wednesday in a press scrum, referring to the Oka crisis in 1990.
With Tristan Péloquin, The Press