McGuinty wants Caledonia demo axed

Oct. 10, 2006. 12:25 PM

FROM CANADIAN PRESS - printed in Toronto Star

A rally scheduled for this weekend in Caledonia, Ont., is a bad idea that has little support from anyone, Premier Dalton McGuinty said today.

The rally is being organized by a Richmond Hill couple to protest the ongoing aboriginal occupation of a former housing development.

But McGuinty said no one — including residents of the town who are frustrated by the drawn-out occupation — thinks the rally will help the situation.

"The people of Caledonia don't think it's a good idea," he told reporters before a government caucus meeting Tuesday.

"I don't think it's a good idea. The (police) don't think it's a good idea. The opposition here don't think it's a good idea. Given that consensus, the best thing would be not to proceed with the rally."

McGuinty said he doesn't think the rally reflects the sentiments of most residents.

Both the town's mayor and Six Nations protesters have been lobbying the government to step in and stop the rally, which was originally supposed to take place on the disputed land.

The situation has been tense in the town outside of Hamilton since the occupation began in February and has been marred by violent clashes between residents and Six Nations protesters.

Aboriginals are negotiating with both the federal and provincial government and say they won't leave the land until it is returned to them.