FORT WILLIAM FIRST NATION, Ont. -- The chief of Fort William First Nation has confirmed there is an offer on the table that could see the James Street Swing Bridge reopened to vehicle traffic by Christmas.
On Monday Mayor Keith Hobbs said a possible resolution could be in the works through ongoing talks between the city, CN Rail and Fort William First Nation.
“The information is correct,” said Chief Georjann Morriseau on Wednesday afternoon.
The First Nation has asked for financial support from the Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development of Canada regional office to help open the rail bed portion of the bridge to vehicles.
The bridge has been closed for nearly a year after a fire severely damaged the structure.
While the city has opted to pursue the issue through the 1906 agreement between the municipality and the railway that says CN must maintain the bridge in perpetuity, Morriseau said the First Nation stills sees an immediate need to open the swing bridge.
“We still feel there’s no reason why it cannot be opened at this time,” she said. “The latest option that has been presented is there is money that has been offered by the regional partnership with Fort William to help repair the bridge and bring it to standards and offer a shared corridor.”
Those discussions are still underway and the First Nation\s council still has to review the latest offer.
“The decision is before them,” said Morriseau.
With the original 1906 agreement being between the city and CN, the chief said it left the First Nation in a vulnerable position.
“Essentially we have no more than observer status and we can only present our issues and advocate on behalf of the community in the sense of safety and economic development and opportunities,” said Morriseau.
In August, the city rejected the plan from the railway that would have seen the company pay 50 per cent of the costs to reopen the bridge; if the offer was accepted, the city would have to renegotiate the 108-year-old agreement.
Because of safety concerns with the Chippewa Road junction on Hwy 61 and the economic impact the closure of the bridge has caused, Morriseau said FWFN had to take the initiative to take discussions further.
“At the end of the day, we want to find common ground,” she said, adding the offer is contingent on the city and CN also being able to negotiate and come to an agreement.
“Fort William First Nation has done what we feel we could, which includes financial support.”
