Gary does what OPP refuse to do: "Open & Honest Dialogue"

Jan 14, 2007

Today, we were in Caledonia at the Lion's Hall having "Open & Honest Dialogue" with anyone who would show up to hear our message.

Commissioner Fantino was invited and was a no show. In fact Fantino was offered, back in December, that if he had an "Open & Honest Dialogue" with residents in Caledonia then I would not show up on Jan. 20th to raise the Canadian Flag. Fantino was too busy this week going on TV and Radio and doing Newspaper interviews to waste his time speaking with Residents in an "Open" forum.

Outside of name calling there appears to be little the OPP has to say to the public. On Dec. 2nd the OPP called residents "Juvenile". Fantino called me a "bad cold" this week and OPP Sgt. David Rektor called us "Interlopers". I guess that is what it takes to qualify to be Commissioner or a Sergeant - their ability to name call. It truly is a sign of just how bad the OPP position is that they resort to name calling and not presenting a solid legal reason for their actions.

Let's be clear, Commissioner Fantino was too scared to appear before the public in Caledonia and answer their questions. Today I had my second Town Hall Meeting where I explained my position, my goals and allow the public to hold me to account by allowing them to question me.

When I consider just how much some people love me or hate me, you can realize that my willingness to go before the town folk to present my case is something NO politician does. They all claim to be accountable, to be accessible and have great claims about being "Open & Honest" but where are the actions to back up their statements.

To date I have had Town Hall Meetings in Caledonia, Cayuga, Brantford and Kitchener. Number of Town Hall Meetings by McGuinty, Ramsay and Fantino - ZERO.

We had out just over 110 people - both Native and non-Native people. Every single person listened quietly to the whole presentation with several moments of applause. No one spoke until it came to the Q&A time. It was a perfect demonstration by all of what Free Speech is all about.

About 8 different media outlets were present from both Native and non-Native media.

Todays meeting went very well with Mark Vandermaas, editor of www.VoiceofCanada.ca, doing an introduction speech for about 10 minutes. [Link to text]

I then did a PowerPoint Presentation which lasted about 1.5 hours. The following is a brief outline: [Link to full presentation]

Titled: Ipperwash Then & Now (the Now being Caledonia)

1) The People of Ipperwash trusted the Ontario & Federal Government to solve the Land Claim.

2) The People of Ipperwash waited and finally realized they had no voice.

3) Martin Luther King Jr. replies to the view of "outsiders"

4) Martin Luther King Jr. replies to the view of "Do your March somewhere else"

5) Martin Luther King Jr. replies to the view of "You are Creating Tension"

6) Martin Luther King Jr. states "What is the greatest Stumbling block?"

7) Winning the Media - before my site started the Natives presented a clear message to Media.

8) Winning the Media - after my site started a new message of OPP Two Tier Justice is in the Media.

9) OPP is continuously on the defensive now.

10) Brief History of Raising Canadian Flags in Caledonia.

11) Why is Raising the Canadian Flag important?

12) 1993 Supreme Court has ruled we have the Constitutional Right to put up Canadian Flags on Hydro Poles.

13) OPP will arrest non-Natives to "Prevent" a Breach of the Peace but not Natives who have already Breached the Peace.

14) My Goals regarding Caledonia.

15) My Goals regarding the Ontario Government.

16) My Message to Canadians.

17) My Message to the People of Ipperwash.

No hidden agenda - No secret Goals - Everything out in the open for all to see