Caledonia barrier delay angers McGuinty

LAUREN LA ROSE
Sept 6, 2006
Canadian Press

A wooden fence that was supposed to separate a Catholic elementary school in Caledonia, Ont., from the seven-month aboriginal occupation taking place next door still isn't finished, much to the consternation of Premier Dalton McGuinty.

The 2.5-metre fence was supposed to prevent students at Notre Dame Catholic School from being distracted by the occupation, which has been taking place on the tract of land since February.

"I'm disappointed to learn that that fence is not up," Mr. McGuinty said yesterday.

"I think we owe it to the parents and we owe it to the children there to ensure that they are going to school with a sense of security."

"We want to get some reports from the ground there to find out specifically where we are in terms of progress, but I cannot believe and will not believe we can't get a fence built."

The fence was supposed to span a 30-metre stretch behind the school, where the playground borders the unfinished Douglas Creek Estates development that's at the heart of a bitter land dispute.

Tensions have escalated in recent months, at times leading to violent clashes between Caledonia residents and native protesters.

Haldimand County Mayor Marie Trainer also voiced her displeasure with the failure to implement other security measures, sentiments she said are echoed by many parents.

"What was said and what has happened isn't the same, and that's what they're frustrated with," Ms. Trainer said. "We were promised a solid fence would be up, we were promised a berm with trees -- neither has happened."

The delay is because not enough time was set aside, said Theresa Harris, director of education for the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board.

There were also concerns that contractors would build the new fence one metre inside an existing chain-link fence, effectively shrinking the school's playground area, Ms. Harris added. Those issues have since been settled, she said.

Another five surveillance cameras will be installed outside the school in a week or so, bringing the total to eight, Ms. Harris said. A provincial police liaison officer will be on site, along with at least 10 officers outside the school.

"I think the indication this morning from the parents that we saw, they're happy to have their kids in school," Ms. Harris said.

Of the 513 students enrolled at Notre Dame, two families were "undecided" about sending their four children back to the school and kept them home yesterday, said board spokeswoman Rebecca Taylor. Twenty-five other students transferred, she said.

Conservative Leader John Tory slammed Ontario's Liberal government for what he called "all talk and no action" on the handling of the Caledonia standoff.

"Students are returning to class today in Caledonia only to see barricades with razor wire standing at the entrance to land that continues to be occupied unconditionally," Mr. Tory said in a statement yesterday. "Mr. McGuinty said today that the first day of school should be a day of optimism. What is optimistic about kids being forced to be face to face with ugly barricades and a tense land dispute on a daily basis?"