Who do we blame for Caledonia mess?

Letter by Albert Marshall – The Regional

October 8, 2008

For Torontonians the occupation of DCE never happened. Hamiltonians have some foggy recollection that something happened. Haldimand residents understand the injustice. The immediate neighbours of Douglas Creek lived through a war and still live with fear.

Some opportunist apparently went door to door in the neighbourhoods along Douglas Creek and offered owners $50,000 for their homes. If these homes can be sold at all, the selling price would be but a fraction of their original purchase price, a sum less than most people's mortgage. This means to sell they would have to pay a large sum to their mortgage company in addition to the sale proceeds. Who can afford to do this?

These citizens of Canada live with terror and in homes they cannot afford to sell. Where is the offer to compensate these injured citizens?

Law enforcement is a provincial responsibility under our Constitution. Only the Ontario government can control the OPP. The federal government can neither appoint the chief of police nor direct its actions. The law has not been enforced. We should not blame individual officers. They follow orders and thank God they do. The orders come from the chief of police and he takes his orders from the province.

As for the land claims, these matters have been outstanding for more than 100 years. If there is fault on the part of the federal government it rests with the governments of the past 100 years. The current federal government is working towards a resolution and has made offers, the largest being some $125 million. We want them to continue to work towards settlement.

Albert Marshall

York