The Town of South Bruce Peninsula has been denied a request for appeal in the Sauble Beach boundary court case.
The Town was looking to appeal the 2023 boundary claim decision which ruled that all of Sauble Beach, up to a point between 6th and 7th Streets North, (about 2.5 km north of the Sauble Beach sign) is part of Saugeen First Nation’s reserve.
- Court Rules In Favour Of Saugeen First Nation In Sauble Beach Boundary Claim
- Town Asks Appeal Court To Vacate Trial Judge’s Ruling In Sauble Beach Boundary Case
The Town also asked to appeal a followup (2024) order to pay $1.61 million to Saugeen First Nation and about $470,000 thousand to the federal government in relation to the court case.
The Town, a few families with land affected by the claim, the Ontario government and the federal government all requested an appeal of the boundary claim decision for varying reasons.
The Ontario Court of Appeal denied all requests Monday, except for Canada’s request for cross appeal of the trial judge’s determination that it alone is responsible for the pre-Confederation Crown’s liability.
The Town says in a statement Monday, “The Town of South Bruce Peninsula acknowledges the decision released today by the Court of Appeal for Ontario. While we are disappointed with the outcome, we respect the judicial process and remain committed to acting in the best interests of our community. A thorough review of the decision will be conducted, and Council will convene to discuss its implications and determine the appropriate next steps in the coming days. We thank our residents for their continued patience and understanding as we navigate this matter.”
Saugeen First Nation Chief Conrad Ritchie says in a statement, “The rights of the Saugeen people have been vindicated,” adding, “After generations of struggle, this is a victory that belongs to our entire community. Our relationship with our lands and waters is central to our way of life and Sauble Beach– known to us as Chi Gmiinh– is an integral part of our community. Out of all our vast territory, this was the place our ancestors chose to preserve for their future generations when they took treaty with the Crown.”
You can find Saugeen First Nation’s statement HERE
You can read the court’s December 9th decision HERE