Ont. judge asks uranium firm, native protesters to compromise

A uranium mining exploration company that is suing Algonquin protesters in eastern Ontario is to appear in court Thursday after the two parties were asked by a judge to reach a temporary truce.

Frontenac Ventures Corp. is claiming $77 million in damages against the protesters from the Ardoch and Shabot Obaadjiwan Algonquin First Nations, who have been blockingan area in North Frontenac Township that the company is interested in developing for uranium mining.

The company is also seeking a court order to remove the protesters from the site, which comprises mainly Crown land that is the subject of ongoing aboriginal land claim negotiations with the provincial and federal governments.

As talks proceeded between the company and the aboriginal groupthis week, Randy Cota, Chief of the Ardoch First Nation, told the CBCthat local aboriginal peoplewould never agree to allow drilling or brushing in the area.

"We're going to be open-minded and see what they have to say but our goal is to protect the watershed at all costs," he said.

Those opposed to uranium mining in the area fear the development could contaminate the local water supply, cause other environmental damage andhurt property values.

The company could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.

On Monday, the company appearedin courtin Kingston, Ont., wherefull court proceedings werescheduledto beginSept. 20, but company lawyers requested a temporary solution that would allow it to keep working this summer and avoid going out of business, the Kingston Whig-Standard reported Tuesday.