Toby Barrett ignores the issues in attempt to help Caledonia

Erin Tully - Tekawennake

November 26, 2008

Toby Barrett, MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk has submitted a resolution that suggested the Douglas Creek Estates be developed as a sub-division to aid the residents in Caledonia. Barrett called on the McGuinty government to continue with the subdivision plans on the disputed land.

Barrett's resolution suggests that the people of Caledonia need to be compensated for the effects of the reclamation of the site by Six Nations in 2006.

"That, in the opinion of this House, families adjacent to the Douglas Creek Estates subdivision in Caledonia must be offered adequate and appropriate compensation, beyond anything negotiated to date, for their subjection to social, economic and psychological distress since the illegal occupation by Native activists on February 28, 2006; so called OPP 'no-go zones' must be eliminated and OPP patrols and protection restored to these zones, as well as to the subdivisions; and the subdivision must be restored to it's former status as a residential subdivision."

Barrett made the submission to the McGuinty government on November 20^th. He said that in his opinion there is only one way to fix the situation in Caledonia.

"There's only one way, in my mind, to resolve the ongoing land dispute in Caledonia and that's to return DCE to it's original state," Barrett told the House. "Further, the province should restore police presence and protection to the DCE and the so-called 'no-go zones' created by McGuinty."

The government has yet to respond to the request.