Ontario's Aboriginal Affairs Minister Michael Bryant said Tuesday that negotiation is the best way to resolve the ongoing land claim issues in Haldimand County and surrounding areas.
Bryant told a special meeting of county council that negotiation offers the hope that all the issues can be resolved amicably while the alternative of going to the courts produces winners and losers hard feelings that can last.
"We're trying to foster a relationship," he said.
Bryant said he does understand that communities neighbouring the Six Nations "are being hurt" and that frustration is growing.
"I know where that anger is coming from," he said.
But at least the Six Nations and the federal and provincial governments are talking. "The most important part of this is the lines of communication are open," he said.
When asked about the activities of HDI by Councillor Buck Sloat, Bryant said he hopes that a side table to the main negotiations can be created "to deal with practical issues like getting HDI off the worksites, sidewalks and the roadways and to the negotiating table."
Bryant assured council and the public that privately owned land will not be taken or expropriated by government to settle a land claim.
Never - in Ontario or Canada - has property owned by a third party been taken to settle a land claim. "Expropriation hasn't happened and won't happen," he said.
"For people in Canada their title is safe and secure," he said.
He said he understands why people get concerned in reaction to broad claims made by some Six Nations members especially when some claims are outside even their own proclamations.
The bottom line is that "your property is your property."
When asked by Sloat why occupations of development sites are allowed Bryant said the way forward is through negotiations and the only way HDI can be a constructive part of the solution is to stop protests and occupations and go to a negotiating table.
"I feel there is the possibility we can stop that (the protests) and get to the negotiating table," he said.
Sloat then said HDI is not legitimate. "It sounds as if I start something illegal maybe I'll get to the table," he said.
Sloat said protesters are putting people out of work, they're costing developers untold amounts of money and they've caused damage to the county and we're inviting them to the table. "There is something very, very wrong," Sloat said.
Bryant said if getting HDI to the table is what it takes to stop the protests then it is worth it. "If we don't speak with them we'll be back where we are now."
Bryant said much of the process involving land claims and aboriginal title has been legalized and that ties the hands of government. It is much better to get a comprehensive, binding negotiated settlement. "If we can negotiate and get an agreement then I say we do it."
"We have to get the communities working together," he said.
Meanwhile developer Michael Corrado was in the gallery during Bryant's presentation and the question and answer period with council.
Early Tuesday Six Nation protesters led by Ruby Montour went to Corrado's 44-home development at the south end of Cayuga and told him he had to get the permission of HDI to build and if he didn't the site would be shut down.
Corrado told reporters that he shut down work on the site on Tuesday, but everyone would be back at work Wednesday and the development would continue. He also said that he will contact HDI to set up a meeting, but made no commitments.
"They haven't asked for money yet," he said.
While Montour didn't say she was representing HDI she did present him with HDI documents, he said.
During the meeting Bryant said he had spoken with Corrado earlier in the day. "I talked to a developer caught up in all this and heard his reasonable requests for assistance from the provincial and federal governments."
Meanwhile speaking to reporters following the meeting Bryant said protests and occupations of development sites have resulted in a "totally unsatisfactory situation."
Addressing a topic that generated headlines last week, Bryant called recent media reports about a proposed moratorium on development speculation and said it isn't something he can or would confirm.
He said comments made in the context of negotiations should have been done within the negotiations and it should not take place in the media.
Bryant and council also talked about the county's recovery plan. Bryant said it would be helpful if the county and provincial officials could set priorities within the plan and that he would be willing to act as a facilitator to get the other ministries - municipal affairs and public infrastructure - involved. He also said he has spoken to federal Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl and the federal government also appears prepared to offer assistance.