Chief Donald Maracle wins with a 840 vote lead. Photo courtesy: http://www.mbq-tmt.org/
By Rhythm Rathi
BELLEVILLE – R. Donald Maracle is setting out his agenda by focusing on safe drinking water and affordable housing issues, after being re-elected as the Chief of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte for another term on Saturday.
Maracle won with more than 800 votes against challenger Andrew Karoniakeshon Miracle, and will now be serving his 15th term as head of the MBQ council.
“I am very humbled and I very much appreciate the vote of support and confidence from our members to continue the work of the Tyendinaga Mohawk Council to improve the quality of life in the Mohawks Bay of Quinte and for all of our members no matter where they reside.”
In an interview with QNet, Maracle talked about addressing issues like not having enough safe drinking water and affordable housing are a big part of his agenda for this term.
“We have approximately 1200 homes in the community and about 700 have access to potable drinking water through a water main but the balance of the homes that are yet unserviced would have to have a water line built.”
He also talked about how climate change is affecting their water resources.
The community experienced a very severe draught in 2017, when the majority of their wells on the west-end of the reserve dried and stayed dry for several weeks.
In the following years, the community had floods that flood the wells that are in the low lying areas next to the Bay of Quinte and this could lead to public health issues.
“I think (there are) just about a 102 shore wells that can be impacted by flooding and these create public health issues.”
“So no community can function without an adequate and safe supply of potable drinking water,” he added.
In terms of addressing the need for more affordable housing he said there are over a 100 people on the waiting list.
“The cost of living is going up and there is very short supply both on and off reserve for affordable housing everywhere in Canada and it’s very pronounced in First Nations and Metis.”
Maracle has taken the responsibility of chairing the a national committee of chiefs on housing and infrastructure this year.
“So we are advocating and ask for the federal government for 60 billion dollars to help address the infrastructure and housing needs in First Nations.”
“We have approval to build additional housing units, but we don’t have enough,” said Maracle.
He also touched on topics like settling land claims, building a long term care facility and the Culbertson settlement with the federal government to make properties available for sale.
“There is a lot of work to do, it will be a very action packed agenda for 2022 and 23.”
Maracle is looking forward to working with his new team and getting decisions made and resources needed to satisfy the needs of their people and working in a very cooperative and productive way.
Councillors Carl ‘Ted’ Maracle, Josh Hill, Stacia Loft and Chris Maracle will also be holding the office for the term.
An official statement of votes by Electoral Officer Leah Brant is posted on the MBQ website.
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