Judgment final as no appeal filed in A30 decision

09/21/2017

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) wishes to advise the community that no appeal has been filed within the required delay regarding Justice Paquette’s decision of the Superior Court of Quebec, which upheld the provincial Decree transferring the A30 lands to Canada for the use and benefit of Kahnawà:ke and, therefore, the judgment is final.

Now that this phase of the litigation on the legality of the land transfer process is over, the MCK expects Quebec and Canada to fulfill their obligations in a timely and expedient manner to make the lands that Kahnawà:ke has been promised available for the use and benefit of the Mohawks of Kahnawà:ke.

“We have been waiting a long time for this,” stated Grand Chief Joseph Tokwiro Norton. “Hopefully, this is the final hurdle and the 500 acres will be formally returned through Canada’s Additions to Reserve process as soon as possible.”

“We’ll also begin meeting with Quebec to ensure they uphold their commitment to Kahnawà:ke for the return of the remaining 200 acres,” he added.

Approximately 500 acres of the approximately 700 acres of land taken for the construction of the A30 by-pass through Seigneury of Sault St. Louis lands are being returned to Kahnawà:ke as compensation for a similar amount of land taken for the construction. Kahnawà:ke is still in negotiations with Quebec to obtain the return of approximately 200 acres of outstanding lands.