Ottawa Thunder Bay

West Block, 326 409 George St.

Ottawa, Ontario Thunder Bay, Ontario
K1A 0A6 Tel: 807-623-6000
Tel: 613-992-3061 Fax: 807-623-6001
Fax: 613-995-3515 Toll-Free: 1-800-667-6186

Atikokan Fort Frances

140 4th St. W.
113A Main Street E. Fort Frances, Ontario
P.O. Box 40 P9A 3B8
Atikokan, Ontario Tel: 807-274-9313
P0T 1C0
Tel: 807-597-2000 John Rafferty Fax: 807-274-3597
Fax: 807-597-2227 Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay – Rainy River

Tuesday May 18, 2010

Honourable Chuck Strahl

Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6

Dear Minister Strahl,

I am writing to you again in regards to the concerns expressed by Couchiching First Nation related to a
serious public health issue arising from the contamination of residential land with dioxins other
chemicals and the continued public use of land claimed by Couchiching upon which Highway 11 has
been constructed.

On Thursday April 29, 2010, I wrote both yourself and your colleague, Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq,
to express my concern regarding these long standing and unresolved issues. In that correspondence, I
also indicated that the community had announced their intent to take public actions on May 21, 2010 if
those issues were not addressed. At that time, I requested a meeting to discuss how an agreement
could be reached in this matter.

I followed up with another letter in regards to this matter on Monday May 3,, 2010. At that time, I
received a request from the office of Chief Chuck McPherson for an in-person meeting with you and
myself in regard to the issues in question. In my letter to you I noted that time is of the essence in this
matter and Chief McPherson has requested that this meeting take place as soon as possible.

Again on Thursday May 6, 2010, another letter was sent to you. In that letter, I expressed the concerns
of Chief McPherson regarding some disturbing comments made by Acting Regional Director General
Leigh Jessen, in the presence of himself, Ms. Jessen and Acting Associate Regional Director General
Joseph Young. At that time, I again requested a meeting with Chief McPherson, indicating his
willingness to meet with you either in Ottawa or any place of your choosing. All of this correspondence
has of course been in addition to our numerous personal conversations on this matter.
With May 21, 2010 and the commencement of the public action but a few days away, I again implore
you to meet with Chief McPherson as quickly as possible. As I have stated in past correspondence, the
leadership of Couchiching has continually indicated publically that their goal is to come to a satisfactory
agreement in regards to these concerns. In your capacity as a Minister representing the Crown and the
Government of Canada, I hope you will recognize this desire and accept this urgent request to discuss
these matters further with the leadership of the Couchiching First Nation as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

John Rafferty, MP
Thunder Bay – Rainy River

CC: Chief Chuck McPherson, Couchiching First Nation and council

Mayor Roy Avis, Town of Fort Frances and council
Howard Hampton, MPP – Kenora – Rainy River
CH/cep_232