August 28, 2008
Simcoe – This week media and others have contacted my office about attempts to intimidate with respect to my work on land dispute issues throughout the former Haldimand Tract.
As those involved will know, intimidation has been one of the strategies attempted by a number of players over the past two-and-a-half years – ask anyone living adjacent to Douglas Creek Estates.
As for me: Have attempts been made? The answer is yes. Did they work? The answer is no.
To be more specific, here are some examples: Did I receive a native eviction notice at my home? Yes. Did I receive a letter criticizing me from OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino? Yes. Did I receive a subpoena to appear in court last Christmas Eve from Gary McHale? Yes. Have I been named in a $250 billion native lawsuit? Yes.
Are these attempts to intimidate? You be the judge. As for me, I have a job to do and was given a significant mandate last fall to keep doing it. I have only one agenda – the agenda of the 100,000 people I represent – I don’t march to any other agenda. Threats don’t change that.
People not from our area eventually find that attempts to intimidate do not work down here. I commenced this summer with a record number of demands for answers on the land dispute file. You can access Hansard transcripts at: http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/committee-proceedings/committee_transcripts_current.do?ParlCommID=8857&locale=en (there are three days of hearings so you will have to click on each individual day as this is the first of the three). And my colleagues and I will go right back at it once McGuinty reconvenes the Legislature.
To conclude, as MPP for the area I work for all – not the bidding of a few. Intimidation does not work with me – any rumour to the contrary has about as much credibility as the one I’m running in the federal election.
Thank you for your time – let’s continue the work.
Sincerely,
Toby Barrett, MPP
Haldimand-Norfolk