Allison Hanes, National Post Published:
Glenn Lowson/National Post
The Ontario Progressive Conservative leader came to call on the provincial government to restore the rule of law in a community where many say an illegal occupation sparked by a native land claim has brought repeated experiences with arson, extortion, violence and intimidation.
This month marks the two-year anniversary since a hard-line group of Aboriginals occupied the site of a new housing development in the field beyond the barrier, claiming it is Six Nations territory -- a confrontation that has been mostly contained, but is far from resolved, and which has left the lives of thousands of Caledonia residents in a state of limbo.
"People are losing confidence in a system where the law is not being enforced in a way that is equitable," Mr. Tory said. "We have to do a much better job of making sure the legitimate grievances of Aboriginal peoples are addressed on a timely basis, but in the meantime, we cannot have lawlessness taking over communities like this and setting an example for others around the province who think they can take the law into their own hands any time the courts are too slow."
An uneasy calm prevails at the moment in
Red and purple Six Nations flags mark the entrance to the reclaimed Douglas Creek Estates building site, which the province purchased from developers to defuse the crisis.
A lone house -- known as "the embassy" -- remains of the nine homes once under construction.
Looking out her kitchen window, a nine-year resident of Thistlemoor Drive, which backs on to the abandoned site, has endured being screamed at by native occupiers while trying to cut her grass and being kept awake until the wee hours night after night by rowdy warriors camped out just beyond her backyard.
She describes the empty tract as a "get-out-of-jail card" for scofflaws who have led police on high-speed chases, then thumbed their noses when authorities declined to pursue them on to the site.
"They know if they make it there, they're home free," said the woman, who, like her neighbours, was too fearful to give her name. "What we're afraid of now is that the government is going to sit still long enough for us to get used to this, then they're going to give [the Six Nations] the land."
Walking her dog yesterday,
Mr. Tory yesterday reiterated recent demands that Premier Dalton McGuinty make an unqualified statement that the rule of law be upheld, cease negotiating land claims with anyone involved in illegal conduct, commit to using police and the courts to enforce Ontario laws and consider compensating residents and businesspeople who have suffered financially.
A spokesman for Aboriginal Affairs Minister Michael Bryant said the government is following the "road map" of the Ipperwash inquiry report on another confrontation between the province and Aboriginals, which prescribes talks, not force, to resolve crises. "The rule of law is preserved by negotiating," Greg Crone said.
At Mr. Tory's side was Sam Gualtieri, a local builder who was working nearby on a house for his daughter last September when a group of men arrived and told him to get off "their land." He refused and was severely beaten--an assault that has left him unable to work, drive or navigate crowds.
"Physically I'm doing better, but mentally, no," said Mr. Gualtieri before his brother took over answering questions for him. "He's not who he was. He's been damaged quite a bit," said Joe Gualtieri. "Nobody else is standing up for Caledonians right now. We want answers."