Tag Archives: law

Cannabis Control Law Enacted

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After more than a year of community engagement and consultation, the Council has enacted the Cannabis Control Law to regulate the production, distribution and consumption of cannabis in Neyaashiinigmiing. The Council is confident that this law, created with the input of Chippewas of Nawash members, strikes the proper balance between enabling economic development and protecting the health, safety and security of residents.

The new law is effective immediately. You can read the law in its entirety on the By-Laws page.

Ontario Seeks Applicants to Fill Vacant Justice of the Peace Positions

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The Justices of the Peace Appointments Advisory Committee is accepting applications to fill 44 vacant justice of the peace positions across Ontario. The Committee reviews applications and recommends candidates to the Attorney General of Ontario that reflect the diversity of the people and communities they will serve.

Justices of the peace do not need to be lawyers and they are recruited from the communities they serve with a distinct focus on recruiting individuals who have strong connection to the community. The Committee is especially committed to connecting with prospective candidates from diverse communities across Ontario, with particular emphasis on Indigenous communities.

You can view the full posting, with application criteria and instructions, on the Ontario Courts website.

Grey County Reaches Settlement Agreement with Saugeen Ojibway Nation

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The Chief and Council are excited to announce that an agreement has been reached with Grey County, in settlement of their portion of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation’s ongoing land claim. Part of the settlement agreement will see the transfer of approximately 275 acres of forest in Georgian Bluffs, abutting Mountain Lake, from the County to the SON.

Grey County is only one of six municipalities named in our claim. If our claim is successful, the municipalities could be subject to an expensive court-ordered settlement, on top of legal costs. With this negotiated settlement, Grey County has settled their portion of our land claim. The settlement is only with Grey County. The Saugeen Ojibway Nation land claim will continue against the remaining parties.

Our land claim has only asked for the return of Crown lands not taken up by third parties, including unsold municipal lands like road allowances and shoreline allowances. We are not asking for land that is occupied, or has been sold to a third-party. It is incorrect to compare the size of the settlement to the total size of Grey County, as the vast majority of land in Grey County is already privately owned and not subject to our claim.

In fact, the settlement will transfer more than twice the amount of land that is actually being claimed by SON from Grey County.

The terms of the settlement agreement required confidentiality about the discussions and the settlement until Grey County and SON released a joint statement, as Grey County was concerned that any pre-release of information would impact negotiations and delay or derail the conclusion of this settlement.

The negotiations that led to this historic settlement were lengthy and detailed. The SON Joint Council was well advised by both legal and financial counsel, and is very pleased with the result. This settlement supports the strength of our ongoing land claim and is an important part of the movement by the Crown and its agents towards reconciliation with the Saugeen Ojibway Nation.

You can read the full press release here.

Community Feedback Wanted from All Members

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There is a lot going on these days as the Council works diligently towards bettering our community in a complicated time. We have two new pieces of draft legislation, and are currently taking feedback on drafting a third:

These are bold initiatives that will help shape our future, and the Council and Administration needs your feedback. Follow the links above to have your say.

We understand that not all members have access to the internet, but we believe everybody’s voice counts. Paper copies of the drafts, as well as feedback forms, are available in the Band Office. You can drop in and pick up copies, or call Band Office reception at 519-534-1689 to have them delivered to your mailbox. Please share this info with all your relations that may not have internet access.

Feedback Invited for Draft Cannabis Control Law

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The legalization of cannabis for recreational use in Canada has created an entire new industry and business ecosystem around it. While cannabis may be legal, the impacts of cannabis use and the industry may not be insignificant. Communities across Canada have had to grapple with the advent of legal cannabis and how to safely and responsibly manage the new industry in their jurisdiction.

Rather than entirely deregulate cannabis in Neyaashiinigmiing, the Council listened to the concerns of the membership and created a Cannabis Commission to propose a safe and responsible management strategy for the industry in our community. Working with our legal counsel, the Council has created a draft Cannabis Control Law for consideration by members of the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation. Visit the Feedback Page to read the proposed law and share your feedback with the Council.

The Council wants to hear from as many members as possible. We have scheduled a webinar for Monday September 14, 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM. The draft law will be presented by a panel including Council members, legal counsel, and industry consultants. Members can register for the webinar here. For those that want to watch the webinar, without registering, we will also livestream the event to the Chippewas of Nawash Facebook page.