Sept 19, 2007
Brantford Expositor
For all those who will be voting in the provincial election on Oct. 10, and for all of you who typically do not take the opportunity to vote, I am calling on you to help the communities that live on the Grand River, and all of Ontario. Many of you may not be aware that much of our province is under a land claim by natives.
I am a resident of Caledonia. I have unfortunately had the opportunity to witness first hand what it is our leader, if one could call him that, is willing to do to help our communities.
Our Fearless Leader (and I will remind you he has not taken the opportunity to visit any of the occupied areas even though at times he has been only 20 minutes away) has basically said it is up to ourselves to fight for our rights to develop land and keep our towns safe.
Let me refresh some memories - Ipperwash: they still live in an occupied territory, were you aware of that?? Caledonia: in the last year and half we have had roads blocked, riots, roads dug up, bridges burned down and our local hydro substation set fire, leaving not only us but much of Southern Ontario three days without electricity.
These are the events you hear in the news, what you do not hear are the ongoing threats of violence, our children having to be rushed in off the playground because the school has gone into lockdown, the constant intimidation, and the loss of revenue for our local stores resulting in closings. The list goes on but I do not have the space to write it all.
I am calling on all of you to remember what it is that Premier Dalton McGuinty has not done in his last term, and that is protecting you and me as Ontario residents.
How would you feel if you were being told that the house you live in does not belong to you and knowing that if a native showed up at your door claiming the land as theirs by "right of colour" you have to leave ? Do you think this is not possible?
It is very possible. We live with this every day, as will each of you when the next occupation comes and it is in your town, or city. Take some time to research the areas that are currently under claim and upcoming, you would be surprised to know that much of Ontario will be experiencing what we have. Ipperwash and Caledonia are only the beginning; keep that in mind when you vote. You and your town will be alone when you call for help. The OPP do nothing, and our leaders do even less.
I could get into the promises broken by McGuinty but to be honest my focus is on the future of my county, my town, my home and my children's futures. Native issues and occupations are what is most important to me in this election. Please make it a consideration in yours.
I will be flying blue proudly on my lawn and vehicle until Oct. 10 because without a change my community does not stand a chance and we will live in this constant threatening situation indefinitely. And your community could very well be next. Do not pass it off as it is not your problem because it is and will be in the very near future. Ontario is our home, all of it, not some of it.
Leading up to Oct. 10, please do some research into the land claims, listen to the news, talk to residents of Ipperwash and Caledonia and developers in Hagersville, Dunnville and Brantford. On Oct. 10 remember what you have learned and make an educated decision when you place that ballot in the box.
Stacey Hauser
Caledonia