EDITORIAL: Remember the law, premier?

Toronto Sun
Wed, August 9, 2006

Well, if Premier Dalton McGuinty won't listen to reason on the Caledonia standoff, maybe he'll listen to a court order.

Yesterday, Superior Court Justice David Marshall, who has frankly shown more leadership on this issue than the man who is supposed to be leading this province, ordered an end to negotiations over the disputed land in the town until native protesters there end their occupation of the property.

Marshall didn't mince words: "It is common knowledge that the people of Caledonia, after five months of occupation, have seen security in their town replaced by lawlessness, protesters in battle fatigues, police officers in riot gear," he said, insisting that the "rule of law" must be respected.

Are you listening, Premier McGuinty? You shouldn't need a judge to tell you this.

But McGuinty's reply speaks for itself: "It's the kind of thing that we're going to want to take some time to carefully consider." Good grief. A judge finally spells it out for you that the situation is only getting worse as you let it fester -- and your response is to "take some time" to consider it?!?

About the only thing McGuinty said yesterday that made sense was that he hoped the ruling wouldn't escalate tensions, and he appealed for everyone to remain calm.

(He also said, without a trace of irony, "Let's not lose ground as a result of this ruling." Lose ground? This from the guy whose idea of negotiating was to buy the land from its would-be developers with no guarantee the protesters would leave?)

We second the appeal for calm, as did PC leader John Tory. For all residents of the area and all parties in this unduly frustrating ordeal, the reminder to essentially do nothing in the face of this ruling -- for now -- is prudent advice.

It should not, however, be a strategy for government.

Sadly, as Tory said last night on Sun TV's Canoe Live, McGuinty seems to be "hiding under his desk, waiting for all this to blow over." Dalton, it's time to stop fretting and start acting like the premier. This is not Ipperwash, and you are not Mike Harris.

Sensibly, as he and others have done for months, Tory called for McGuinty to personally urge the factions in this battle to settle it -- otherwise, ending it will have to be the job of police. You know, premier, the guys who uphold the law? You, they and the judge are supposed to be on the same side.