Re: 'Stalemate in Caledonia' (editorial, Aug. 19)
The dispute in Caledonia is between the Six Nations and the federal government.
So, why is the provincial government taking most of the heat for this situation? Why were they the ones to buy the land? Why is the province involved in negotiations? Why is an Ontario judge handing down orders in a federal matter? Why is it the provincial government who must challenge the judge's orders so negotiations can continue?
The federal government alone has the power to resolve this situation. The federal government should have bought the land. Policing of the situation should be done by the federal police -- the RCMP. The federal government should be the ones contesting Justice David Marshall's order. The federal government should be the main player at the negotiating table, with the province keeping itself informed.
Had previous federal governments handled the native land claims in a more expedient manner, this situation would not have happened. Even worse, the Stephen Harper government appears to be taking a secondary role, content to pretend it is the provincial government's responsibility to resolve the matter.