OPEN LETTER TO ANDY SCOTT

 MINISTER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS AND NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT

August 10, 2004

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

Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development

Room 100, Justice Building

House of Commons

Ottawa, Ontario

K1A 0A6

Dear Mr. Scott:

Congratulations on your recent appointment to Cabinet as Minister of Indian Affairs.  I look forward to working with you over the coming months to resolve a long-standing dispute between the federal government and local Indian bands in Saskatchewan’s Qu’Appelle Valley, located in the most southern portion of my constituency.

By way of background, the water in the Qu’Appelle Valley took on great importance during the 1930’s drought.  The Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA) was established to provide water for farm irrigation and household use.  In 1942, the federal government installed water control devices through the PFRA to regulate water levels and offer irrigation to local farmers in the Qu’Appelle Valley.  Over the years, the resulting increase in water levels has led local residents to build cabins along the lakes. 

Higher water levels also led to some flooding of low-lying marshlands on Indian reserves.  Since the Indian bands were not consulted before the installation of the water control devices, disagreement over the management of these devices has arisen.

Negotiations between the Indian bands represented by the Qu’Appelle Valley Indian Development Authority (QVIDA) and the federal government have been ongoing for several years.  In 1998, the Indian Claims Commission (ICC) ruled that the flooding of Indian land was, in fact, “illegal trespassing”, and it ordered the federal government to pay compensation should flooding continue.  As a result, the federal government paid some compensation and then entered into discussions with the Indian bands to determine compensation for future flooding.

The federal government was offered a Treaty Water Resource Permission license by the Indian bands.  This treaty sought to permit the flooding of Indian reserve land for the period of April 2002 to April 2003 at a cost of $12 million dollars.  The federal government refused to pay and talks broke off.

Since the summer of 2003, the PFRA has been denied access to the control dams on Round and Crooked Lakes by local Indian bands.  Access to these dams is crucial to place stop logs that control water levels on these lakes.

Saskatchewan’s Qu’Appelle Valley has been an outstanding scenic and touristic feature in this province.  It is now quickly becoming an environmental disaster.  Water levels have dropped dramatically in the past two years.  These low water levels have not only negatively affected environmental issues but also recreational use, tourism, the value of cottage properties, and water wells.  Cottage owners’ boat launches, docks, and piers now sit on dry land. Some waterfront lots are now 150 feet from the water.  In many areas, the sandy beaches and fresh water where pelicans and blue herons have lived for decades, are quickly being replaced by a habitat of mudflats, weeds and rocks.  Sections of the lake have become too shallow for boating.  New boat launches have had to be built.  Many cottage owners have dug new wells as the water quality and water quantity declines.

Many environmental concerns resulting from the low water levels including water quality and aquatic habitats are being monitored.  Cottage owners have reported an increase in the number of dead fish along their beaches and are worried about permanent damage to the aquatic and land habitats, as water is one of Canada’s greatest natural resources.

The situation in the Qu’Appelle Valley has affected many people in my constituency.  Racial tension between First Nations’ people and cabin owners has risen to new heights as frustration mounts over the impasse.  Clearly this matter warrants your immediate attention.  I strongly urge you to resolve this dispute as quickly as possible and restore the control of the dams back to the PFRA in consultation with the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority.

In Saskatchewan, managing our water resources is especially imperative. 

I trust you will do your utmost to resolve this matter as soon as possible.  Should you require any further information or assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly. In the meantime, please do keep me apprised of any new developments taken to successfully resolve this long-standing situation.

Kind regards,

Yours sincerely,

Garry Breitkreuz, MP

Yorkton-Melville