Residents directly affected by the Caledonia standoff appear to be largely taking a dim view of the $430,000 compensation package announced by the Ontario government.
Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant MPP Toby Barrett, the Conservative member who represents Caledonia, says he's been deluged by e-mails from residents surrounding Douglas Creek Estates.
"People are disappointed and upset that that's all there is unless the feds match it," Haldimand Mayor Marie Trainer said last night, adding the compensation package is less than residents had hoped for.
Trainer said the Caledonia Community Committee, which had a hand in drawing up compensation guidelines in line with a government budget figure, was told Ottawa might match the amount. That has not happened.
She also said residents farther away from the disputed land would like to be included.
Barrett said he can't repeat some of the comments homeowners made to him.
"Property values have dropped like a rock. And how do you compensate, another phrase I see, for the living hell.
"It's insulting and a slap in the face."
Natives took over the housing project more than a year ago, claiming it was Six Nations land.
Negotiations to resolve the dispute are set to reconvene tomorrow.
Ministry spokesperson Roger Moyer said the package was worked out in consultation with the Caledonia Community Committee in meetings since January. He said application packages are being delivered to eligible homeowners today.
Barrett was bothered that no buyout option was offered.
"I talked to one family and they want to get out. They are fearful. They don't want to carry another native passport again (to get access to their house). They are frightened. They fear for their lives."
Caledonia Councillor Craig Grice said the best compensation would be a resolution to the occupation, which natives call a reclamation.
Ken Hewitt, who led the Caledonia Citizens Alliance last summer and has since been less involved, said he doesn't understand what criteria the government used to determine how much each homeowner was affected. Hewitt is seeking the federal Liberal nomination to challenge Tory MP and Citizenship and Immigration Minister Diane Finley.
Hewitt said the details for compensation were worked out in secret by the Caledonia Community Committee and members of that group were required to sign a confidentiality agreement.
The maximum compensation would go to approximately 20 households on both sides of 6th Line between Argyle Street South and Oneida Road; east side of Oneida Road between 6th Line and Sterling Street; Sterling Street between the rail line and Oneida Road; and both sides of Argyle Street South, south of the location of the former road block and Highway 6.
The package provides $3,000 for some 80 homeowners in the area abutting the Southern Ontario Railway corridor on MacCrae Drive and Braemar Avenue; households on Thistlemoor Drive abutting the Douglas Creek lands and two residences on Thistlemoor backing on to the Notre Dame school; west side of Argyle Street South between Celtic Drive and the area north of the former road block.
It provides $2,000 for another 35 households across the street on Thistlemoor Drive and Braemar Avenue.