For immediate release:
Jul 21, 2006
People continue to ask- what’s on the negotiating table at Caledonia/Six Nations?
Is it Burtch, South Cayuga, Townsend, or Dalton Creek Estates – all provincially-owned properties.
On April 19th, The Hamilton Spectator reported, “Canada and Ontario have offered to end the standoff by, among other things, providing money to Six Nations to research land and resource issue and start talks to turn over provincially owned land in Brant County, South Cayuga and Townsend to Six Nations.”
Burtch – nearly 400 acres – is south of Brantford. It was expropriated from area farmers by the federal government in 1941 to create a World War II landing field by the Air Services Branch. Burtch became an RCAF Wireless School flying squadron. A letter to the editor from government MPP Dave Levac recently referenced Burtch, stating, “these lands will form part of a negotiated settlement and title transfer of the Burtch property will take place through the main table.”
According to the Spectator, 4,700 acres of provincially owned land near South Cayuga – west of Dunnville -- is also up for grabs.
Further, the Ontario government owns 1,360 acres of land surrounding Townsend – much of which is being leased by local farmers. This land – not the village itself – is also allegedly on the table.
In the Ontario Legislature, I have raised the ‘negotiation question’ several times, as early as April 19, as well as May 29 and June 14. I’m still waiting for answers.
Adding to the confusion, we have heard that land claims aren’t even being discussed at the negotiating table – what are they talking about?
And why are they negotiating only one or two days a week – this snail’s pace fails to reflect the urgency felt by all sides.
We need a Premier who will act like a true CEO- one that will get the job done, rather than procrastinating for months.
It’s been nearly five months since the land dispute began, and still, no sight of leadership or communication from the Ontario government.
The vacuum of leadership has been obvious from the beginning. Premier McGuinty has yet to visit Caledonia/Six Nations. He previously flip-flopped on conditions for continuing negotiations, less than twenty-four hours after he announced them.
In contrast to Premier McGuinty’s refusal to consult with the communities impacted by these negotiations, I have personally- and with help- knocked on over one thousand doors in the Caledonia, Jarvis, and Townsend, as well as throughout Haldimand County.
People want an end to the secrecy. They want to know if this Ontario Government, publicly-owned, land is on the table, and how this will impact their property values. Rumours and speculation are out of control.
Premier McGuinty feels that his government is making progress. That’s not the way I see it. I see a situation in our riding that has gone from bad to worse and still growing.
On June 12, my colleague MPP Frank Klees asked for daily updates to provide us with factual information. A month-and-a-half later, we are still waiting.
We need to know if the 1,360 acres at Townsend and 4,700 acres at South Cayuga are on the table. If they are, we need details on the upcoming public consultation process- if any. We need to know why the negotiations are so infrequent. And we need a comprehensive communications strategy from the provincial government.