Jun 19, 2006
Mr. Robert W. Runciman (Leeds–Grenville): My question is to the Acting Premier. Acting Premier, last Friday your Liberal government announced the purchase of land now under native occupation in Caledonia. At the time, the minister of aboriginal affairs indicated that the purchase price was confidential. We’re now hearing the price payable will exceed 50 million taxpayer dollars. Why, Minister, is the purchase price confidential? On what basis have you determined that it must be confidential? What is so confidential about using taxpayer dollars to clean up a problem your government can’t fix?
Hon. Leona Dombrowsky (Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs): I’m happy to have the opportunity to say to the honourable member today, I’m not in a position to share that particular detail with him, but what I can say is because our government has been able to reach an agreement with a local developer, that has enabled those parties at the main table—federal representatives, provincial representatives and representatives of the First Nations community—to move these negotiations along, as is appropriate. We’re very pleased that by achieving this agreement with the property owner, it has enabled those at the negotiating table—the main table—to focus on the issue and get this matter resolved as soon as possible.
Mr. Runciman: I think some could fairly construe that response as contempt for the Legislature and contempt for the hard-working taxpayers of this province.
John Tory and the Progressive Conservative Party believe the people of Ontario deserve to know just how much Dalton McGuinty’s lack of leadership is costing us. Last week, in court, officials from the Ministry of the Attorney General indicated that the McGuinty government is handing over property at the former Burtch correctional institute to Six Nations. Would the minister advise the House and hard-pressed Ontario taxpayers what the assessed value of that property is?
Hon. Mrs. Dombrowsky: I find it quite appalling that a member of this Legislature, who would have been a former Attorney General, would ask a question of that kind, knowing that there are very serious and important negotiations underway at this time. You are asking for information that would be inappropriate and I know, in this position you, as a minister, would not have provided either.
We have a very serious situation that the federal government, provincial representatives and First Nations representatives are dealing with. We encourage them. We have provided them, we believe, with a situation now, with the property issue being resolved, that will enable them to achieve a resolution to this in a more expeditious way. That has been our commitment from day one of this, and we are encouraged now that there has been a property deal, that that will enable those parties at that table to get that deal done.
Mr. Runciman: That was an unbelievably feeble response. I mean, the Attorney General’s officials already indicated they turned over property at Burtch to Six Nations. This is not something that’s part of negotiations. They’ve turned it over.
To date, the McGuinty government has committed probably in excess of 50 million taxpayer dollars for a property purchase, millions to disrupted businesses, given away at least a hundred hectares of government property, dropped conditions for a return to the bargaining table, recognized a no-go zone for police, permitted criminal fugitives to remain at large, shattered public confidence in the rule of law, turned a blind eye to the destruction of a hydro transformer, the blockade of highway and railway and on and on, and still, no deal. Mr. McGuinty’s approach, bargain from weakness and reward continued resistance, is settings the table for many more Caledonia-type confrontations.
Minister, will you, as Acting Premier, tell the people of Caledonia and the people of Ontario if this is how Dalton McGuinty defines being up to the job?
The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): The question has been asked. Minister?
Hon. Mrs. Dombrowsky: First of all, I would like to say, on behalf of the government—and, certainly, it has been stated many times by the minister responsible for aboriginal affairs—we truly appreciate what the people and the community of Caledonia have had to endure and we thank them for their continued support.
Now, I know that the honourable member, and the members of the opposition, are not happy that we find ourselves today in a situation where, at the main table, federal partners, provincial partners and First Nations partners are negotiating a resolution to this issue. That has been our goal from day one. We are there with all of the challenges that the member has identified, that have happened and have been dealt with. They’ve been dealt with in a manner that we feel that it’s important for people in the community to know that we are committed to their safety, to their well-being and to ensure that there is a peaceful resolution to this outstanding—
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The Speaker: Thank you.
Mr. Robert W. Runciman (Leeds–Grenville): Back to the Acting Premier again on Caledonia.
Acting Premier, one of the explicit conditions that Mr. McGuinty laid out last Monday for a return to the bargaining table with the Caledonia occupiers was that the First Nations leadership co-operate with police. We know that isn’t happening. I believe it’s quite appropriate for one to ask for assurances that your government will not broker any deal with the occupiers until the six wanted individuals, including one charged with the attempted murder of an OPP officer, are turned over to police. Will you give us that assurance?
Hon. Mrs. Dombrowsky: The Premier was very clear when he said that in order for negotiations to continue on this very serious issue, the barricades had to come down and there had to be a demonstration that the First Nations people were co-operating—
Mr. Runciman: He said the leadership.
Hon. Mrs. Dombrowsky: Well, the leadership of the First Nations were co-operating with the police. We have heard from the Ontario Provincial Police, who have confirmed that that is in fact what has happened at Caledonia. That is why we have returned to the negotiating table, along with our federal partners. Obviously, the federal participants at this table believe that it is appropriate to be there so that we can gain a resolution to this very serious issue.
The Speaker: Supplementary?
Mr. Runciman: The regrettable truth is that Mr. McGuinty displayed incredible weakness last week when, on Tuesday, he backed down from explicit conditions for a return to the bargaining table that he’d set just the day before. Talk about backing yourself into a corner.
Minister, you are negotiating with people who are openly obstructing justice by admittedly hiding or assisting to flee individuals wanted for very serious crimes including attempted murder of a police officer.
Minister, why would you continue to negotiate with the Caledonia occupiers unless or until they co-operate and hand over the six wanted men?
Hon. Mrs. Dombrowsky: You asked this question of this government and this Premier. Are you asking the same questions of the Prime Minister of Canada who has seen fit to have representatives of the federal government at the same table we are at for the same reasons. We understand why it is so important that we achieve a settlement to this very, very serious issue.
To the honourable member, I remind him that the conditions that had been placed by the Premier of Ontario have been met. The barricades are down. And the Ontario Provincial Police have told us—and if I have to choose between taking their word or your word, I’m taking their word. That’s why we’re at the table.
The Speaker: Final supplementary.
Mr. Runciman: She’s taking the word of the spinmeisters in the Premier’s office; no one else.
Minister, you’ve attempted to put a happy face on your land purchase announcement, but the Caledonia occupiers are saying that’s not good enough until the 50 million tax dollars and the land title are in their pocket, along with the birch property.
Given the Premier’s lack of intestinal fortitude to this point in time, who knows what else you’re offering?
Minister, we know that 15 OPP officers have been injured during the occupation, people assaulted, a highway and railway span blocked, thousands plunged into darkness through destruction of a hydro transformer, individuals facing serious criminal charges hidden. Yet all we hear about are the giveaways by the McGuinty Liberal government.
Minister, what are you looking for in return? What are you looking for in return for your generous concessions? What are you bargaining for?
Hon. Mrs. Dombrowsky: I would offer the honourable member that the position that has been taken by our Premier has been strong and it’s been clear.
I would also offer to the honourable member—maybe he hasn’t read the papers lately—this is a quote that has come from Karl Walsh, who is with the Ontario Provincial Police Association. This is what Mr. Walsh has said in terms of how our government has conducted the affairs around this particular incident. He indicates that he ??appreciates the government’s hands-off approach to policing in Caledonia, and says that the opposition should stop playing politics with this standoff. I would suggest that the honourable member should heed the advice of Karl Walsh and stop playing politics with this very important issue. We are working for a resolution.