Protéger les terres et les eaux dans la région du Traité no 9

The document highlights the ecological importance of the Hudson Bay and James Bay lowlands as a critical global carbon sink and the threats posed by the 'Ring of Fire' mining projects. It details the advocacy of the Friends of the Attawapiskat River, who argue that respecting treaty rights and obtaining free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) are essential for achieving climate and conservation goals. The study critiques Ontario's mining laws and the lack of provincial implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), recommending the establishment of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) and a moratorium on mining permits until Indigenous sovereignty and environmental protections are guaranteed.

• The Hudson Bay and James Bay lowlands in northern Ontario serve as a vital global carbon sink, storing over 35 billion tonnes of carbon. Some areas of these peatlands contain up to five times more carbon per square metre than the Amazon rainforest.
• Mining projects in the 'Ring of Fire' region, covering approximately 5,000 km², threaten to release stored carbon by disturbing the peatlands (muskeg), which could undermine Canada's goal to reduce emissions by 40 percent by 2030.
• The Ontario government has granted over 33,000 mining claims and exploration permits in the Ring of Fire without the consent of affected Indigenous communities. Major holders include Juno Corp, with over 17,000 claims, and Ring of Fire Metals (a Wyloo subsidiary), with over 10,600 claims.
• Recent changes to Ontario's Mining Act via Bill 71 have reduced requirements for mining companies to cover cleanup costs and removed the necessity for detailed closure plans before activities begin, increasing the risk of toxic pollution.
• While Canada has adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UNDRIPA), the lack of corresponding provincial legislation in Ontario limits the binding nature of the declaration regarding land and resource management.
• The Impact Assessment Act (IAA) is criticized for using a 'threshold' approach, meaning only the largest mining projects undergo impact assessments, which excludes most mining projects and their infrastructure from joint Indigenous decision-making.
• The document recommends the creation of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) and the implementation of a moratorium on new mining permits until free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) is obtained and basic community needs, such as drinking water, are met.

APA

Canadian Climate Institute (2025). Protéger les terres et les eaux dans la région du Traité no 9. https://institutclimatique.ca/publications/proteger-les-terres-et-les-eaux-dans-la-region-du-traite-no9/

Chicago

Canadian Climate Institute. Protéger les terres et les eaux dans la région du Traité no 9. 2025. https://institutclimatique.ca/publications/proteger-les-terres-et-les-eaux-dans-la-region-du-traite-no9/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Canadian Climate Institute |title=Protéger les terres et les eaux dans la région du Traité no 9 |date=16 June 2025 |url=https://institutclimatique.ca/publications/proteger-les-terres-et-les-eaux-dans-la-region-du-traite-no9/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{canadianclimateinstitute2025protger, author = {{Canadian Climate Institute}}, title = {{Protéger les terres et les eaux dans la région du Traité no 9}}, institution = {Canadian Climate Institute}, year = {2025}, month = jun, url = {https://institutclimatique.ca/publications/proteger-les-terres-et-les-eaux-dans-la-region-du-traite-no9/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }