KAREN BEST
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Dunnville Chronicle
Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Premier Dalton McGuinty are not planning to visit Haldimand County in the near future. Will Haldimand Norfolk MP Diane Finley come?
Her presence is requested as soon as possible, Haldimand County council decided in a unanimous decision on Monday.
Council took action after Coun. Lorne Boyko persisted in his efforts to speak to a politician of rank about the Six Nations occupation of the Douglas Creek Estates subdivision in Caledonia.
In his motion, council requested that Finley meet with council immediately on the occupation and related issues in the county. By deadline, neither Finley nor one of her staff members had responded to a call from The Chronicle.
Boyko is frustrated with the lack of response from Harper and McGuinty. On June 12, council passed a unanimous motion expressing opposition to lawlessness in Caledonia and asked the two leaders to meet with them. Council also asked that negotiations cease until occupiers were moved a safe distance, as determined by council, away from properties on Sixth Line, Thistlemoor Drive and Notre Dame Elementary School. None of these requests in the motion composed by Boyko were answered.
Just after noon on Aug. 28, McGuinty said he was monitoring the situation very closely and ministers and others have visited Caledonia. "I feel I am very well informed," he said to The Chronicle while on the Toronto Island airport ferry.
He also referred to meeting with Caledonia residents in Toronto on June 21. "I have no intention to come to Caledonia in the immediate future," stated McGuinty.
"What we've done is we've made some real progress," he said referring to removal of the barricades and the Ontario government purchase of the 200 acre subdivision. "I am working hand in hand with the Prime Minister and police to keep things down," he continued.
"Certainly the Prime Minister and I are of one mind that is to address issues through the negotiating table," said McGuinty. Police are saying it is best to remain at the table, he added.
When it was noted that Community Safety Minister Monte Kwinter said all was calm in Caledonia, McGuinty said the minister later corrected himself. "We know there are outstanding issues," said the premier.
In an Aug. 10 letter, Harper's executive correspondence officer stated that the Prime Minister's schedule was too full to meet with council in the foreseeable future.
Boyko was also very disappointed with federal responses to requests for meetings and participation. The community liaison committee asked federal negotiator Barbara McDougall to attend meetings but neither she nor a representative have done so.
In contrast, Brant MPP Dave Levac joined this group, which deals with Caledonia community issues related to the occupation. Provincially appointed negotiator Jane Stewart has attended the meetings or has sent a representative.
"It's long over due that the federal government pony up to this council and hear our concerns," said Boyko. "This affects everyone on the (Grand River) watershed."
This is why it is critical for Finley to come in person to provide council with information on negotiations and related matters, he emphasized.
Later his frustration grew when upcoming meetings with Stewart were announced. She will meet with Trainer and the mayors of Brantford and Brant County plus each municipality's chief administrative officer. Stewart also considered holding a public meeting for 90 families living near the occupied site.
Instead she and provincial negotiators John Nolan and Dianne Woods decided to go door to door to update residents near DCE and to gather input. Letters will be left where they receive no answer. People can call 1-866-486-7881 to schedule an appointment. The door to door campaign was expected to be completed this week.