Royal Michael's Bay in negotiations with Nature Conservancy over Manitou R. lots

by Michael Erskine

TEHKUMMAH-The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is looking at its next Manitoulin acquisition, with a news release coming from the property owner's representative that final negotiations are under way between the NCC, Ontario Parks and the Royal Michael's Bay Golf and Country Club for certain lands east of the Manitou River.

The acquisition will secure the environmentally sensitive storm beaches in the area, and will make an important addition to the existing land base of the Blue Jay Creek Nature Reserve, noted Alan Atherton, executive project manager and president of Canusa, the representative of the current property owners, Claire and Walter Vandroemme, of Belgium.

"We have been in negotiations over property in the area," confirmed NCC Land Securement Officer Alan Stacey. "I don't know if we would characterize them as 'final.' We have had a long-term interest in the property, going back through previous owners. Hopefully they will come to a final conclusion soon."

The NCC specializes in moving property into conservation through voluntary negotiations with property owners or outright purchase. Many leading corporations have praised the organization's non-confrontational business model, and its focus on reaching a conservation consensus in communities in which they express an interest.

In addition to plans to transfer some of the 690-acre Michael's Bay property to the Nature Reserve, Mr. Atherton is also in negotiations with the Michael's Bay Historical Society to determine if a partnership may be feasible for the re-creation of a portion of the original Michael's Bay town site as a tourist attraction.

The entire Michael's Bay property is currently designated 'Planned Development' within the guidelines of the existing Manitoulin Master Plan (official plan), said Mr. Atherton, adding that the Township of Tehkummah comprehensive zoning bylaws have been updated to reflect the guidelines within the municipality's official plan.

What this means is that the project can now proceed through the filing of secondary plans, within the criteria of the Ontario Planning Act.

Copies of the market and feasibility studies for the project are on file with the Manitoulin Planning Board and the Township of Tehkummah, said Mr. Atherton, and are available for public viewing.

Northeast council postpones sale of lakeshore roads until November 30

by Richard MacKenzie

LITTLE CURRENT- Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands (NEMI) council has decided to extend the deadline previously given the United Chiefs and Councils of Manitoulin (UCCM) in regards to their objections concerning the sale of shoreline road allowances.

At a council meeting on October 6, a motion was passed to extend the deadline from September 30 to November 30. The deadline remains for the UCCM to communicate clarification and evidence of legal impediments in regards to the sale and if none is put forward by that date, the town will proceed with their plan to sell the allowances.

The extension was passed immediately following a motion, which passed unanimously, supporting the Manitoulin first nation groups in their attempts to complete outstanding land claims with the provincial and federal governments.

Part of the language and spirit of the motion was in the same vein as messages recently expressed by the Manitoulin Municipal Association (MMA) at a meeting held on September 22 in Gordon Township. In their meeting, the MMA offered their support to help the UCCM and Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve settle land claim agreements with the two levels of government. One of the agreements that sits unfinished is the 1990 land claim agreement with the province. The MMA also came out and said it does not support the sale of shoreline allowances while the claims are outstanding.

It is a stance NEMI councillor Jim Stringer would like to see his council take as well, and maintains that imposing a deadline on the UCCM while offering support, amounts to a message of contradiction. Mr. Stringer believes the offer of a meeting is a positive move, but with a deadline attached, is not delivered in the spirit of cooperation. He said he would like to see the issue of "the sale of shoreline allowances tabled until the completion of discussions with the UCCM and Wikwemikong."

Many of his fellow councillors expressed concerns over the amount of time council would be left waiting for a meeting and the explanation by the UCCM on the particular piece of legislation which would hold up the sales.

Mayor Joe Chapman, who spoke at the MMA meeting in regards to working with the first nations groups, said that while they (UCCM) deserve clarification, so do the municipalities. The mayor stressed the importance of communication while balancing it with the concerns of the town.

Councillor Sam Nardi furthered the mayor's point by saying council's priority is first and foremost with tax payers in their jurisdiction, and added he felt a meeting was in the best interest of all groups.

Councillor Jib Turner felt even if a meeting were to take place, "the completion of discussions" was too vague an expression and, again, would leave council waiting on an issue with no end in site.

The UCCM has said in the past it has no intention to meet with NEMI on the issue.

James Simon granted private audience with Pope Jean-Paul

by Michael Erskine

WIKWEMIKONG-James Simon Mishibinijima, a world-renowned artist based in Wikwemikong, will meet Pope John Paul in a private audience today (October 13) in Rome.

Little is known about what Mr. Mishibinijima will be saying to his Holiness, but Mr. Mishibinijima is expected to present the pontiff with a work of art.

The secrecy surrounding his trip has no sinister connotations, however; it is simply a matter of respect.

"James doesn't want to be disrespectful of the Pope. This is quite an honour," said his Publicist Diane Violette, of Sudbury. "We don't want to be disrespectful and we are unsure of the protocols involved, so we decided to err on the side of caution and wait until after he is back before we hold any press conference."

The caution is understandable, as Mr. Mishibinijima's trip has caused quite a media stir, and the soft-spoken artist has been deluged with calls from media outlets across North America.

"It's a bit overwhelming for everyone, really," said Ms. Violette.

For now the artist and his family are concentrating on his upcoming trip.

"We will wait a little while after he gets back, let the jet lag settle, before we speak to the media," the publicist added. By then the protocols will be clear and Mr. Mishibinijima will have something more concrete to say.