Tensions between the city and Six Nations will rise if Brantford moves ahead with a "massive" development planned for the Hardy Road area, NDP federal election candidate Brian Van Tilborg said Tuesday.
"I don't want to see more salt put in the wounds of Six Nations," Van Tilborg said. "I don't want to see any other problems develop.
"If we see a shovel go into the Hardy Road area, it's going to be worse."
Van Tilborg said he will skip an all-candidates debate tonight in St. George in favour of attending a public meeting at Coronation School about the proposed development, which would see natural areas along Hardy Road turned into a series of subdivisions with as many as 800 housing units.
Van Tilborg said he was asked in late August to lend support to the cause of area residents concerned about the environmental impact of the proposed development. The candidate lived on Hardy Road until last March and plans to use his political profile to highlight development proposals in the area.
"That is the last green space in the northwest corner of the city. It is in an environmentally sensitive zone and has an ANSI (Area of Natural and Scientific Investigation) designation," Van Tilborg said. "People are not aware this area is going to be turned upside down and into a large subdivision. People believe this is already protected land."
While he regrets having to miss tonight's debate, Van Tilborg said he can't turn his back on the Hardy Road area residents he has committed to help.
"I gave them a firm commitment I would help them out and do everything I could," he said. "I'm not trying to slight the citizens of St. George-- I would do the same for the citizens of St. George if it was an important issue.
"This just happens to be bad timing and I was already committed."