Christina Blizzard
Of all the issues likely to bite Premier Dalton McGuinty where it hurts come election time, the standoff at
It is dangerous politically for him because it speaks to character. Spooked by the fallout from the 1995 shooting of native protester Dudley George at
The situation at a former housing development southwest of
In June, McGuinty announced the government would pay $12.3 million to purchase the 40 hectares of land on which Henco Industries had planned to build 600 homes. The land was supposed to be held in trust while the ownership was worked out. Meanwhile, protesters are still occupying it.
A recent Court of Appeal ruling acknowledged that they were in contempt of an earlier ruling telling them to leave the property, but cautioned that public safety would be threatened if the order was enforced. "The unchallenged evidence before us is that a court order that makes the current limited occupation of Douglas Creek Estates a contempt of court will only escalate tensions in the community, put public safety at increased risk and adversely affect the land-claim negotiations," the ruling said.
Oh, good. Now we have the courts sanctioning the takeover because we're too chicken to enforce the law. Apparently, if you cover your face with a bandanna and generally act menacing, you can get anything you want in this province.
McGuinty said yesterday that the protesters' plans to stay on the land over the winter were "unacceptable."
"With respect to any permanent occupation, that is something that ought to be properly the subject of any negotiations. So for any interest from the First Nations community who are purporting at this point in time to be setting themselves up to stay there in some permanent way through the winter, for example, that is unaccpetable to us."
The premier said his government and the feds are in the "process of negotiation" with the protesters, and are getting "ongoing" advice from police.
"That has been supported just recently through the Ontario Court of Appeal when it confirmed that it was in the interests of public safety that there not be a prohibition against them occupying the land for the time being," he said.
Fair enough. This plan to stay on through the winter is a recipe for disaster. Apart from the fact that it would be giving in to bullies and encouraging scofflaws, what about the building code?
Many of the protesters I have spoken to do not recognize the authority of the laws, bylaws and regulations of this country. So will these homes meet the standards other developers must meet? Not likely. All it will take is for someone to build a fire for warmth, it'll get out of hand -- and you'll have a tragedy. Mark my words.
The ongoing protest mocks the entire provincial land registry system. Can you be sure you own the land you thought you had title to if the courts refuse to uphold court orders?
The danger for McGuinty in
Look, no one wants any violence. But McGuinty's handlers are trying to paint him as "Mr.