By Daniel Nolan
The
OPP Commissioner Gwen Boniface says her officers are dealing with a "complex situation" in
The commissioner, under fire from some residents for what they perceive as a double standard in the treatment of natives and non-natives, wouldn't comment directly on complaints that there's a two-tier justice system, but said her force is trying to "work through all of the issues" stemming from the five-month occupation of Douglas Creek Estates.
"As you know, this is a very complex situation," Boniface told The Spectator last night just before she held a closed door meeting with a handful of residents to discuss their concerns about policing.
"Our ... officers have been doing a good job and as we move forward, we want to work our way through that."
Boniface wouldn't comment on whether officers have been given orders not to engage natives when they view them possibly committing criminal offences. She would only say, "The officers are ... doing the best they can."
Boniface, set to step down in October for a policing job in
"Listen, this is a fabulous opportunity in
"I'm so thrilled to be selected and I'm so thrilled to have the challenge ... Quite frankly, it's very fitting at the end of a 30 year career."
Boniface's meeting with residents at the
Natives call their action a reclamation because they say they never surrendered the
While Boniface held her meeting with "select" residents, Haldimand Mayor Marie Trainer held a meeting of her own with about 50 residents from the
The meeting was held on a residents' front lawn and Trainer sat in a lawn chair taking notes of more complaints from residents about incidents with the occupiers and how they feel threatened and abandoned by authorities.
One person told the mayor the occupiers still run ATVs behind their homes at all hours of the night and one woman said they revved up a backhoe at
One woman said she had pig parts dumped in her hot tub, one said her granddaughter won't visit her anymore, and some said they were told by the OPP not to put up Canadian flags.
"We're just fed up," said Joe, 42 (he declined to give his last name). "It's right in your face and we see the OPP standing here doing nothing."
Trainer, who called provincial negotiator Jane Stewart to let her hear some of the complaints, told the group that Haldimand will consider replacing the OPP with a municipal force, which