Support for Acquisition of Ontera by Western James Bay Telecom Network

Resolution No. 2012-09-13

Support for Acquisition of Ontera by Western James Bay Telecom Network

WHEREAS the Province of Ontario has announced plans to divest itself of the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission including Ontera, its telecommunications subsidiary; and

WHEREAS Western James Bay Telecom Network (WJBTN) is the not-for-profit First Nations telecommunications company established in 2009 to deliver high speed internet and data services to the Far North communities of Fort Albany, Kashechewan and Attawapiskat along the James Bay coast; and

WHEREAS Mushkegowuk Council was the proponent for the establishment of the advanced WJBTN fibre optic telecommunications network by contributing to its start-up and securing more that 2.3 million in capital from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation, FedNor, Health Canada and the First Nation communities to deploy the network; and

WHEREAS on April 4, 2012, the Western James Bay Telecom Network advised ONTC of its interests in

acquiring and operating the telecommunications assets of Ontera, subject to the favourable review and analysis of the financial and operational status of Ontera by the WJBTN Board of Directors; and

WHEREAS the WJBTN Board of Directors view the Province's divestiture of Ontera as an opportunity to acquire and operate the fibre transport and electronics from Timmins to Cochrane and Moose Factory, the local telephone exchanges in Moose Factory and Moosonee and possibly all or other portions of the telecommunications business; and

WHEREAS the acquisition of Ontera by WJBTN in a consortium with other First Nation organizations and the private sector would provide on-going and new employment opportunities, skills development, capacity building, recurring revenue sources and economic sustainability for First Nation and other communities; and

WHEREAS local ownership and responsibility for the delivery of services from a not-for-profit First Nation organization would ensure that residents of Moosonee, Moose Factory, Fort Albany, Kashechewan and Attawapiskat and other regions of Northern Ontario continue to receive much needed telecommunications services;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Mushkegowuk Council of Chiefs support the Western James Bay

Telecom Network Board of Directors in acquiring Ontera.

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