2-01237

FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE SITUATION WITH BARRIÈRE LAKE FIRST NATION

Ottawa, Ontario (October 3, 2001) - The department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) issued the following statement today:

There are important steps to be taken with the Government of Québec and INAC`s Québec regional office before any meeting with the Deputy Minister can prove useful. The central and key issue is the completion of the Integrated Resource Management Plan (IRMP). The Barrière Lake First Nation must accomplish this by pursuing discussions with representatives of the Government of Québec and the INAC's Québec regional office.

As was said in the letter sent by the Deputy Minister to the Barrière Lake First Nation on September 25, "the financial resources dedicated to the IRMP compared to progress made are difficult to justify. I would like to emphasize the importance of improving the efficiency of this process and focussing on achievable results."

Over the last several years, INAC has contributed significant amounts of funding to the community development of the Barrière Lake First Nation. Attached is a detailed backgrounder providing additional information concerning these contributions.

For more information, please contact:

Michael FitzPatrick
Media Relations
Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
(819) 994-2044

Backgrounder - Federal Initiatives to support the Algonquins of Barrière Lake

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