Nov. 30, 2006 /CNW/
The Honourable David Ramsay
Minister of Natural Resources
6630-99 Wellesley Street West
6th Floor
Whitney Block
Toronto, Ontario
M7A 1W3
Dear Sir:
Re: The Ipperwash Inquiry
We are counsel to the Honourable Michael D. Harris and represent him in The Ipperwash Inquiry.
In the legislature yesterday your government was questioned by a Progressive Conservative member regarding ongoing events in Caledonia, Ontario.
As is well known, the protracted occupation of lands at Caledonia is the most significant First Nations occupation to have taken place in Ontario since the occupation of Ipperwash Provincial Park commenced in 1995. It is also well known that a tragic outcome of the occupation of Ipperwash Provincial Park was the death of Dudley George, one of the occupying persons.
In responding to the questioning yesterday you made the following statement:
I would very much proudly stand in my place and say that we are very
proud of our approach, compared to a past approach that cost a life in
Ontario, the first time an aboriginal person has lost their life in this
province.
The plain implication of your statement was that the death of Dudley George at Ipperwash was caused by the approach to the occupation there by the government of Premier Harris. You were no doubt aware when you made the statement that this false allegation has previously been made by members of your party.
You either know, or should know, that your statement yesterday was unfounded. Your government's own written submission to The Ipperwash Inquiry acknowledges that the policy of the government of the day had no effect on decisions made at Ipperwash Provincial Park by the Incident Commander of the Ontario Provincial Police. In those submissions your government also specifically accepted that the action taken by the government - the seeking of an injunction - was a legitimate option for the government that played no role in the death of Mr. George.
In addition to being plainly false, your statement yesterday demonstrated a complete disregard for The Ipperwash Inquiry's process and was also clearly improper on that ground.
On behalf of our client, consider yourself on notice that he will not tolerate your making, expressly or impliedly, false and defamatory allegations against him regarding the Ipperwash matter. If you make such statements outside the legislature legal proceedings will immediately be commenced against you personally.
Yours truly,
Peter A. Downard
cc. W.A. Derry Millar
Lead Commission Counsel
The Ipperwash Inquiry