Province needs to deal with Caledonia problem

By Ralph Benedict, Mount Hope
The Hamilton Spectator
(Nov 18, 2006)

Re: 'Feds understand Caledonia: premier' (Nov. 15)

Premier Dalton McGuinty doesn't seem to get it. He asks for help from the federal government, but it was his decision to do nothing and spend limitless money on the problem and not deal with the situation itself.

I have to agree with the federal government when it says to McGuinty that it was him who decided to send a large police contingent to Caledonia to basically monitor the situation and keep the communities apart; to place a moratorium on the property; and to buy the development from the developers and builders.

If the province owns the land and has placed a moratorium on construction and development, why does it allow the continued occupation? If the property is more than 100 acres, why do the occupiers have to be right up against the existing subdivision?

I think the federal government and the natives know the province too well -- they know the province will continue to throw money at the situation, but not deal with it. We only have to look at Ipperwash to see this. It has been occupied for 10 years and nothing has been resolved -- not the ownership or the continued occupation there. This leaves little comfort for the people of Caledonia.

When the Caledonia occupation began, the main claim of the province was that a man was killed at Ipperwash and it cost us (including the inquiry) $90 million. Well, no one has been hurt in Caledonia yet, but we will soon have spent as much. McGuinty needs to stop begging and deal with the problem.