Provincial, federal leaders turn down Haldimand

BY KAREN BEST
Haldimand Review Staff
Thursday, August 31, 2006 - 09:00

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Premier Dalton McGuinty are not planning to visit Haldimand County in the near future. Will Haldimand Norfolk MPDiane Finley come?

Her presence is requested as soon as possible, Haldimand County council decided in a unanimous decision on Monday. Meanwhile Minister David Ramsay who is responsible for Ontario Aboriginal Affairs is aware of continued conflict in Caledonia.

On Aug. 28, 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 (DCE) 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 Review.

Boyko is frustrated with the lack of response from Harper and McGuinty. In June, council expressed opposition to lawlessness in Caledonia and asked the two leaders to meet with them. They also asked that negotiations cease until occupiers were moved a safe distance away from abutting town homes and Notre Dame Elementary School. Council received no answers to these requests.

Just after noon on Aug. 28, McGuinty said he was monitoring the situation very closely and ministers and others have visited Caledonia. Ifeel I am very well informed,he said to a Review reporter while he was 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 weve done is weve 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.

We strive every day to reduce the temperature between the parties, said David Ramsay, the minister responsible for the Ontario Secretariat of Aboriginal Affairs.We are working very hard at it and ask people to be patient. We are making progress.

Ramsay was aware of recent incidents including people on the occupied site honking horns and directing headlights into homes and of other incidents. Were concerned about that. We dont like peoples lives to be disrupted. Its not fair to people. We want people to respect one another. That goes for everyone, he said.

When asked about what might move the province to clear the site, Ramsay replied that he wanted peace in the area and strong messages about disturbing incidents are taken to the main negotiating table, which is dealing with land claim issues in the Haldimand tract. It is not helpful to have disruption emanating from the site, he noted.

Ramsay would not prejudge negotiations when asked about continued occupation. In a separate interview, McGuinty said permanent occupation is the subject of negotiations.

He stated that it was unacceptable for the First Nations community to set themselves up in a permanent way for the winter.

People on the occupied site are asking for donations of building supplies.

The Ontario government has no process in place to provide any funding for people on DCE, said Rosemary Sampson, communication director for Aboriginal Affairs. Ontario certainly has no intention to provide funding and to her knowledge has not been asked. She doesnt expect a request for funds.

In commenting on the future of DCE, Ramsay said there are no Caledonia residents on the side table addressing the sites future use but the province is committed to liaising with local people from time to time. Obviously the province will consult with the community for input on the final use, he continued.

Whatever the final outcome to all this is, it needs to bring lasting peace to the whole region,he said.

While the Ontario government continued its hands on actions, the federal government has maintained a distance from some aspects of the Caledonia issue. In an Aug. 10 letter, Harpers executive correspondence officer stated that the Prime Ministers 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 MPPDave 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.

Its 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 municipalitys 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.