Orilliamatters has received the following open letter to Catherine McKenna, from Jack Gourlie, a citizen of Orillia who is concerned about the fate of the Champlain Monument that was located in Couchiching Beach Park.
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Dear Honourable Catherine McKenna
In your response to our citizens' petition, you advised us that you would be considering a report from both the Orillia City Council and the working group before responding.
The Orillia City Council reported a vote of 9 to 1 to "Restore the refurbished Champlain Monument to its place in Couchiching Beach Park with the full original configuration". The working group, after eight months of meetings, submitted on July 24 a lengthy report mainly saying, "Restore the Champlain figure only" and decide after further meetings with the aboriginal people on the disposition of the fur traders, the missionary and two native figures.
The Parks Canada response seemed to come the same day as the study group released its report, and in fact made no mention of the voting wishes of the majority of the citizens of Orillia as stated in the Orillia City Council's report. The latter was largely influenced by the working group's well responded voting procedure when there were four choices of the monument's disposition and the overwhelming vote was to "Return the Champlain monument in its original condition including the same configurations."
The citizens of Orillia are somewhat disappointed with the working group's process and one-sided viewpoint. The working group members seemed to be assigned by Parks Canada.
Immediately following the Orillia City Council report, a scathing letter was published in OrilliaMatters from the Grand Chief of the Huronia-Wendat saying in so many words that the monument should never go back up and that the Orillia City Council or we citizens did not have the best interests of the aboriginal people and reconciliation.
It was a lengthy letter, in many ways an Insult to the Orillia City Council with its copies going to the Prime Minister of Canada. The Mayor of Orillia responded in a politically sensitive tone reminding the Grand Chief that the two Huronia-Wendat study group representatives never showed up during the eight months of discussions, at times when they could have provided input.
It is quite noticeable to Orillia citizens that many responses are from Parks Canada rather than mention of yourself as head of Parks Canada and one who would render the ultimate decision.
Some say that relations between aboriginal and non-aboriginal people in Orillia have become strained by the interactions and lengthy process. I feel that most Orillia citizens are good folks and in the long run fair-minded.
You, the Honourable Catherine McKenna, stated that both the working group and the Orillia City Council's vote would be taken into consideration for the final decision of the monument's disposition, whereas Parks Canada communications appear to have considered only the working group's opinions.
We await a final decision from you, as stated in your response to our petition, which you kindly returned to us. We anticipate that your decision will be based on both the Orillia City Council's Report and the working group's.
Thanking you in advance and we look forward to your decision.
Jack Gourlie
Orillia
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