ELLIOT LAKE - Elliot Lake city council has agreed to a plan from CAO Daniel Gagnon that the city turn over some four point two acres of waterfront land on Elliot Lake to the First Nations.
The land on Highway 108 north of the city core was given to Elliot Lake by the Crown after a former Ministry of Natural Resources work and storage yard at the site was decommissioned. Monday Night council decided to turn the property over to Serpent River First Nation.
In 2018, requests for proposals for the property were submitted for various projects on the site including a restaurant. Council rejected all the proposals. The land has been vacant for 20 years.
Several residents spoke in favour of the gift as did Mayor Dan Marchisella and all the other councillors. It was felt that the land gift to Serpent River was a tangible way to demonstrate the city’s commitment to further economic and tourism partnerships with Serpent River.
Gagnon referred to a council decision to call for proposals for the land in 2018, “As council is aware we've been working with Serpent River First Nation to pursue the concepts of joint economic development, land development, and the concepts of reconciliation.
“I am recommending that we move ahead with this because it meets a lot of the strategic goals in our strategic plan. It …sends a strong message to Serpent River, the province and the nation at this time. You know, the Pope was in Canada, delivering his long-awaited apology. It fits into broader concepts of reconciliation (as we) continue to work together on what the future of that parcel holds and how it will impact the economy of both communities.” he went on.
“Because of the concepts of reconciliation, we're allowing Serpent River First Nation to be in the driver's seat on the future of that parcel, which was basically their land originally and we're able to return to them for the future. What we've been learning is it is a future that will span seven generations, not one term of council, which is kind of what we're used to.” Gagnon concluded.
Several councillors spoke of the synchronicity of council approving the agreement on the same day that Pope Francis delivered an apology to Canada’s First Nations in Alberta for the abuses and deaths of Native children that were committed in Canadian church-run residential schools.
“I think this is the strongest statement we can make to our neighbours and to senior government and doing what’s right,” Mayor Dan Marchisella said.
Coun. Sandy Finamore said, “I can say for the first time that I have hope.”
“I think this offers us a tremendous opportunity to work to build our futures together because that’s how we’ll grow them,” said Coun. Luc Cyr.
“It seems extremely fitting that we discussed this today of all days with what occurred in Alberta this afternoon,” observed Coun. Norman Mann.
“We did not offer anything to anybody behind closed doors,’ stated Coun. Ed Pearce.
“The social and economic benefits to the two communities are extraordinary,” noted Coun. Tom Turner.
The only reservation came from Coun. Chris Patrie who said while he was in favour in principle, the gift plan should have been discussed by city council before the offer was made to the Serpent River First Nation people by a city delegation which visited the reserve.
The vote in favour was 6-1 with Patrie the lone dissenter.
Council also voted to turn over city council executive powers to CAO Gagnon to cover a 90-day period with the likelihood that council will become a lame duck this year over the time of the municipal election.
That will include allowing him to approve spending items costing more than $50,000 in cash or purchases and the power of firing or hiring staff over the weeks when council is in its dormant period. That will cover the first quarter of 2023.
The arrangement will come into force when the municipal clerk determines that less than 75 per cent of the current members of council will be returning to sit on the new council after nomination day of the 2022 elections.
On another note, council approved a zoning change that will provide members of the Church of Latter Days Saints, known also as the Mormons, a base to conduct religious services at the Creative Glass building at 26 Ontario Avenue.
A request for an adjustment to the “C” zoning for the 2-storey building was approved by council after a public meeting earlier Monday night that failed to attract any comments or questions from residents at city hall.
The religious group was not named in any of the documents presented in the public meeting or any other reports to committee and council on the zoning change.
The proponent, Elliot Lake resident Amin Bashir, later revealed the identity of the faith group and said they were left with nowhere to meet following the roof collapse of the Lester B. Pearson Civic Centre in February 2019.
They had rented space from the city in the building but found themselves without a meeting place after the building’s demise.
Mr. Bashir told ElliotLakeToday the group preferred not to be identified prior to its parent body, headquartered in Utah, was assured the zoning change was approved and a lease could be signed so the building could be reinvented for use as a church. LDS estimates 50 people will attend the religious meetings and youth groups would also use the building twice a week.
