Flag-raising event like a game of cat and mouse, says Fantino

"This whole flag thing - (it) is just another way of creating more angst in a community that needs to be left alone." - OPP Commissioner

BY KAREN BEST
January 24, 2007
Haldimand Review

For 10 minutes, two Canadian flags flew side by side across from Douglas Creek Estates in Caledonia. Then an OPP inspector removed one hung hastily by Gary McHale.

After attempting to meet with OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino at a police substation outside Caledonia, McHale asked officers what law he would break if he tried to hang a flag across from DCE.

No one answered.

He immediately returned to DCE and before 50 officers could make their way over to him, he used duct tape to attach his flag pole on a fence. About 14 hours earlier, several Six Nations members created a flag display at this location on the east side of Argyle Street South while OPP watched.

On the morning of the Jan. 20 flag event, Six Nations spokesperson Hazel Hill said the native unity flag was flown on the highest pole to demonstrate unity among all indigenous people and below it was the Haudenosaunee flag.

On the lower level was the Two Row Wampum flag. It is an pictorial illustration of a late 17th century non-interference agreement between the Dutch and Six Nations.

Hill said the Canadian and American flags were flown on either side of the main pole and at the same height as the Two Row flag to symbolize the ongoing unique relationship of her people with Canada and the United States and with the Crown. The display also showed the world that Six Nations has support from people on both sides of the border, she said.

As McHale's flag flew by the display, Hill watched. She told a Chronicle reporter that she would ask OPP to remove it. At that time, three vans full of police officers were parked in front of the display.

Further up the street, McHale noticed his flag was gone. Later, in a store parking lot, OPP Insp. Ross Nichols, who removed the flag, told McHale would be arrested if he tried to hang the flag again. McHale wanted to know why it was illegal for him to hang the Canadian flag but was legal for natives. As other officers had already told him that day, the inspector said he was duty bound to prevent a breach of peace. He also said a confrontation would occur if McHale tried to raise it again.

This exchange occurred near the end of a very cold Saturday afternoon. Around 11 a.m., McHale exchanged words with the first inspector who would not let him walk down the street to hang a flag. More than 100 officers lined the shoulder of the street, corralling about 150 Caledonia residents and others gathered to listen to speeches. An OPP helicopter buzzed over head.

Christine McNicoll, who is a nurse, told OPP Insp. Dan Rioux that nothing would happen if a flag was hung.

"There's too much at stake here," she said.

Randy Colibaba, of Hagersville, was present to protest two-tier justice. He said he did not blame the natives but held the government responsible for a lack of response.

Down the street, a couple dozen local residents huddled by a bonfire on Chris and Lisa Syrie's property, which juts into the Argyle Street South side of DCE. A crowd of more than 50 Six Nations residents gathered on the far side of his neighbour's property. Chris Syrie said he was out to demonstrate opposition to the Ontario government's refusal to recognize an ongoing issue with his land. He planned to build a new Caledonia Music Centre school on the lot to accommodate his 400 students and more on a waiting list.

Lisa Syrie said they have lost many future clients over the stand Chris has taken.

"We bought this land. We are showing our Canadian ownership," she said adding that their claim is similar to those of Six Nations.

A few people held flags as they stood on the shoulder of the road, waving to passing motorists.

Caledonia resident Steve Tong stood near the crowd to talk to media and to make a point.

"This is the only way this problem will get fixed is to get media attention. It worked. We can't let this die," he said. Even if he wanted to leave Caledonia, he couldn't because he could lose up to $100,000 on his property value, he said.

When McHale arrived, about 100 Six Nations persons gathered and began heckling him.

They yelled out, "Hail McHale" and urged him to get arrested. Some blurted out racist comments. OPP officers asked one Six Nation man to move away from the property edge and they talked a Caledonia man out of continuing a dialogue with the crowd. Both men heeded police. One Six Nations man shouted. "You stole (land) and squatted on it and we're fed up," he said. Thirty London police officers equipped with shields and helmets stood quietly watching the two groups separated by only 30 feet and a gully. Their services were not required.

At this week's council meeting, Coun. Lorne Boyko said he would ask OPP and Haldimand County officials for a breakdown of costs on McHale's latest rally. The residents of Caledonia and Haldimand County have a right to that information as do Ontario citizens, he said.

Coun. Craig Grice said he was acting upon Fantino's request to keep the peace by observing and offering assistance to his constituents but was not treated respectfully by officers. He denounced negative media sensationalism and said OPP removal of McHale's flag was more proof of two-tier justice.

For Fantino, his day began at 9 a.m. at DCE where he told Six Nations members that he expected co-operation and that any transgressions would be dealt with. By afternoon, the event petered out, he said.

"It was a bit of a cat and mouse game with people going here and there," he said.

When told McHale said he would return in February for another attempt, Fantino flat out said, "Big deal."

At future flag days, OPP will arrest people breaching the police line for obstruction of an officer, said the commissioner.

"People have to realize the consequences," he said of potential conviction of a crime.

"My concern has always been there's always a likelihood that one side or the other would engage," said Fantino. "This whole flag thing - (it) is just another way of creating more angst in a community that needs to be left alone...You know what. We're all tired of him."

The commissioner also said he would not tolerate anyone pushing around his people and using them as the butt of frustration.

When McHale rolls into Caledonia, where it is relatively peaceful, all of a sudden officers are put in harm's way, said Karl Walsh, president of the OPP association.

"He's inciting violence. He's inciting hate," he said.