By Karen Best
Friday, February 16, 2007 - 09:00
Haldimand Review
Caledonia residents must wait for a provincial cabinet decision to find out if they qualify for financial compensation due to the Douglas Creek Estates protest.
The minister and his colleagues will debate advice and program design but the decision will be made by the Ontario provincial cabinet, said Roger Moyer. He is the manager of the local government department in the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
On Feb. 8, the Caledonia community committee forwarded its advice on the design and delivery of a compensation program to municipal affairs minister John Gerretsen. Committee membership included politicians, a county employee and town residents.
Andre Gulabsingh, who declined an invitation to participate in the committee, described the resident group as a compensation committee. He refused to sign a non-disclosure document because much of the discussions and proceedings related to the Six Nations occupation of Douglas Creek Estates is cloaked in secrecy, he said.
Members of the committee agreed to work in confidence, said Moyer. These people have jobs and participated as volunteers. They asked that their names not be released so they could deliberate and provide impartial advice, he said.
Within about a week of Victoria Day, when Caledonia and others clashed with Six Nations protesters, the Ontario government announced its intention to offer financial assistance to residents most directly impacted by DCE. Originally, residents heard that compensation would be provided for costs related to acquiring alternate accommodations, loss of food in freezers due to the power outage and other direct repercussions.
This month Jill Bellchamber-Glazier said no decision had been made on eligibility or how the program will roll out. She is a ministry municipal advisor.
After Gerretsen’s announcement, ministry staff visited over 80 homes in June to gather information from residents on streets near DCE. When asked about the passage of time between those visits and establishment of the committee, Bellchamber-Glazier said ministry staff wanted to ensure they were getting it right. Through the rest of the summer and into the fall, staff spoke with residents and received letters and phone calls about impacts, she said.
Later in the year, Haldimand County and Haldimand groups, including the Caledonia Citizen Alliance, were approached to recommend volunteers. Mayor Marie Trainer, Coun. Craig Grice, who declared a conflict of interest, and county chief administrative officer Bill Pearce sat on the committee. Grice lives near DCE.
At the suggestion of Trainer, ministry staff added individuals who live on streets surrounding DCE, said Bellchamber-Glazier. Committee participants do not lose potential eligibility for compensation, said Moyer.
In an earlier interview, Trainer said less than $1.5 million, the amount offered for business recovery, was suggested for resident compensation. She said there was not enough money for people around the DCE perimeter much less for residents in other parts of Caledonia. She told the Review that the Ontario government hoped the federal government would match their funding.
During deliberations, committee members requested that photographs be included in their advice documents, said Bellchamber-Glazier. An email request was circulated in the neighbourhood and raised ire. One woman responded, saying it was impossible for residents to take pictures without putting their lives in jeopardy. When CH filmed Six Nations protesters harassing an elderly couple, a cameraman was physically assaulted, and his camera removed and returned without the video footage. She suggested the ministry contact OPP because officers have taken pictures of town residents and may have other photographic evidence.
“No pictures were provided,” said Bellchamber-Glazier.
After eight meetings, the group’s advice was sent to Gerretsen. The proceedings of the committee were undertaken in confidence until the government makes a decision, said Moyer. His department will continue its administrative role once the program is launched, including oversight of any application process, he said.