OPEN LETTER TO INDIAN AFFAIRS MINISTER ANDY MITCHELL

                                                                        Ottawa

                                                                        March 31, 2004

The Hon. Andy Mitchell, P.C., M.P.

Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development

Room 782, Confederation Building

House of Commons

Ottawa, Ontario

K1A 0A6

Dear Minister:

Re:  Water levels at Crooked and Round Lakes, Qu’Appelle Valley, Saskatchewan

An urgent issue in the riding of Yorkton-Melville needs your immediate attention.  Constituents in my riding are extremely frustrated and concerned that no agreement has been reached between the Qu’Appelle Valley Indian Development Authority (QUVIDA) and cottage owners, farmers and non-aboriginals over the operation of the dams on Crooked Lake and Round Lake.  It is imperative that the problem be resolved immediately.

            The issue centres upon the Lakes of the Qu’Appelle Valley and the extreme drop in water levels that has come about as a result of a conflict between the Qu’Appelle Valley Indian Development Authority, cottage owners on the lakes, farmers in the area and other concerned individuals.

            The reason the issue needs immediate intervention by you is that spring runoff is absolutely essential to the maintenance of healthy water levels at these lakes.  Negotiations have stalled and the resulting damage to the environment, the economy, recreation, agriculture, tourism and aboriginal use of resources in this area has been detrimental to all concerned.

            You must show the leadership necessary to bring all the parties and government departments together to resolve this situation now.  Despite several appeals to do so, no one in government has coordinated an effort to bring a resolution to this issue.  Sir, the buck needs to stop with you and should not be sloughed off to anyone else.  Unless you assume accountability for this, the damage will be virtually irreparable.

            I thank you in advance for your prompt response to this request.

Yours sincerely,

Garry Breitkreuz, MP

Yorkton-Melville

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