The safety of residents and protestors are being sacrificed to fear

says Rondi Adamson
Aug. 13, 2006
Toronto Star

It seems to me a fairly basic tenet of common sense, that bad behaviour should not be rewarded. This is true for children and adults alike. Yet for six months, a band of Six Nations protestors in Caledonia, and some assorted non-native hangers-on, have seen their bad behaviour indulged. The behaviour in question has included ignoring court orders, erecting barricades, blocking rail lines, roads and bridges, digging up streets, setting fires, causing blackouts, dragging police officers out of an SUV and attacking them, attacking cameramen and more. The lawlessness has, at times, been returned by residents of Caledonia.

The natives say they have a land claim on Douglas Creek Estates, a housing development. This may well be true, but it doesn't strike me as justification for their current activities. In June, the Ontario government purchased the disputed land — with taxpayer dollars — with no promise from the protestors that they would desist. If that weren't stupid enough, the province then indicated it would continue to negotiate the claim. Thankfully, Ontario Superior Court Justice David Marshall ruled this week that negotiations should be suspended until the protestors vacate Douglas Creek Estates.

Mind you, Marshall ordered the same thing months ago. He also ruled that if protestors would not leave willingly, they should be removed by police. But his orders were, in his own words, "blatantly disregarded." That hasn't been the only blatant disregard. Many residents of Caledonia have complained that police have not protected them, and instead have stood by throughout the violence.

One can deduce why. Premier Dalton McGuinty is paralyzed by the memory of Ipperwash. In other words, the safety of residents in Caledonia, as well as the safety and best interests of the protestors, are being sacrificed to fear. Add a dose of historical guilt and sound judgment is scarce. No one wants to be seen confronting natives, as though allowing criminal behaviour from radical elements will make up for centuries of injustice. One wonders: How, exactly, does it compensate?

There is no painless solution, especially since it has been allowed to drag on. McGuinty should personally urge protestors to abandon their intransigence and leave willingly. Because if they don't, police will have to be dispatched, and it won't be pretty. Had things been properly dealt with in March, there is no telling how much aggravation could have been avoided. Echoing Justice Marshall, John Tory stated last week that, "We shouldn't be carrying on negotiations until court orders are being followed, until the law is respected by all people at all times." It confounds that this needs to be said.

Ontario's premier had one shining moment of backbone last fall when he announced he would prohibit all religious-based tribunals to settle family disputes. It was the right move, because there should be one law for all Ontarians. Does he no longer believe this?