Fox calls for Nault's ouster

Chiefs of Ontario leader Charles Fox has appealed to Prime Minister Jean Chretien to dismiss INAC minister Robert Nault from his post.

Citing the mismanagement of INAC and his proposed suite of first nations legislation currently before the house, Fox labeled Nault as a "rogue minister."

"He's out of control. He's abused his power, misappropriated and misspent taxpayer's money and tried to indirectly interfere in first nations' elections. That's absolutely unacceptable," said Fox.

And he cited his opposition to the FNGA as well as that of other Ontario first nations' groups as the reason Nault has withheld funding to many groups and organizations.

And reports that members of Nault's communications' team had attended a recent ant-FNGA protest in Kenora to monitor and institute surveillance on first nations opposition have also raised Fox's ire.

"Nault regards first nations as subversive groups instead of sovereign partners with the government of Canada. Can you imagine how another country would feel towards Canada if it found out that it had special surveillance teams in place there?"

"Nault has achieved a notable record. In recent memory no Indian Affairs Minister has so blatantly misused his authority and betrayed the Canadian and first nations.

Grassy Narrows escalates logging blockade

A second logging route has been blocked by protestors from the Grassy Narrows First Nation who have been attempting to draw attention to clear-cut logging on their traditional territories since last December.

While efforts in blocking the access of logging trucks has been somewhat successful the second blockade was undertaken to hamper the flow of logs from the are to Abitibi Consolidated's Paper Mill in Kenora.

And a series of alternating blockades in the area has also managed to reduce the flow of logs, according to protestors.

But despite their efforts logging continues in the area negotiations between the first nation and the province and Abitibi on the issue have not occurred.