By JOE WARMINGTON, SUN MEDIA
Toronto Sun
May 24, 2007
HAGERSVILLE -- "See you at the next construction site." With a bandanna over his face, the words from the "Mohawk Warrior" didn't sound like they were meant to be a joke.
The next construction site? What developer will be prepared to risk hard-earned capital in this region! The last two who did ended up with a native occupation, construction halted and millions lost.
There may not be another construction site in
In other words it's the Mohawk Warrior who is in charge down here. Just ask developer Dan Valentini. "Everything I have is in that land," he said, as he agreed to send his construction crew home in exchange for protesters to leave.
His action prevented a standoff and time will tell if it was prudent or project ending! His day started with a beginning of an 85-unit retirement project but now the future of his life savings and the development is unknown.
What is known is the problem at
Equally as friendly Clyde Powless, who said he did feel badly for the developer, adding "we were not consulted." Even if it's true there are few who could get away with occupying land with no repercussions. But this is
To translate into taxpayers English what is really being said is "Mr. McGuinty break out the chequebook because you may have to buy another piece of land on behalf of Ontarians." The whole thing is an outrage. Perhaps ask the premier about it at an Ottawa Senators Stanley Cup Final game where you may find him in the owner's luxury box -- probably not far from vote opportunistic Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who should be back after his latest photo op with the troops in Afghanistan while gas prices rise and land claims fester.
But they'll be all smiles in their Senators colours while the people of Hagersville and Caledonia, as well as developer Valentini, will probably have to watch on TV. In Valentini's case he may have to sell his and listen on radio since he lost a load of cash yesterday when he had to send construction workers home and put his trades and real estate people on hold.
This whole thing is a mess, brought on but gutless leadership and equally as despicable acts of anarchy by some self-appointed native "representatives" -- a few of whom were trying to pass themselves off as chiefs and elders when all they really were was acting like punks.
While some were honourable, there were others who seemed to be spoiling for a fight. There is no need for any of that in this province where there are processes in place to deal with these issues.
The protesters don't represent aboriginal people in this country at all and are nothing more than a militant splinter group. Nobody I talked with has been elected and yet there they were huffing and puffing and holding news conferences. Instead they won again -- achieving the goal of getting the developer to back down. They seem to have to have all the power as politicians without backbone remember the ghost of Ipperwash casualty Dudley George.
Nobody wants anything like that to happen again, which is part of the reason why the developer yesterday negotiated so quickly to shut his site down. "I didn't want any violence," he said, adding he had no idea his property was in any discussions concerning land claims. Well, he knows now, and soon will be sitting in negotiations with people with nicknames Bullets, Young Gun or Hotwheels on a break from the latest shut down construction site.