Patricia Valladao, Senior Media Relations for the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, contacted the Chronicle last Wednesday afternoon to clarify some information that was written in the paper about the correspondence from Haldimand County Mayor Marie Trainer to Minister Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.
The story that ran in the Chronicle last week was in reference to Trainer asking for assistance from Haldimand/Norfolk MP Diane Finley and Prime Minister Stephen Harper in arranging a meeting with the Minister.
Haldimand County Council was not supportive in the response from the Minister in suggesting that a meeting be arranged with Senior Federal Negotiator Mr. Ron Doering to answer their concerns. Council's position at the time was that a meeting needed to be held directly with the Minister who has the authority to address the matters concerning Haldimand County, in particular the eight questions compiled by Councillor Craig Grice. Council passed a recommendation to request reconsideration from the minister to meet with Haldimand County Council.
In the initial contact via email with Valladao she stated "We are concerned about the great strain and tension that events in the Brantford and Caledonia area have caused within that community and neighbouring Six Nations. Canada believes that finding a negotiated solution is the best way to resolve these important and complex issues. Despite media reports, the correspondence received from Mayor Trainer's office did not include a series of eight questions. The correspondence was a short email requesting a meeting with the Minister".
In a follow-up telephone interview with Valladao on Thursday of last week, the Chronicle supplied the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs with the eight questions that Councillor Craig Grice had put together that was to be included in the original request for a meeting with the minister. Valladao was confident that Mr. Ron Doering Lead Federal Negotiator for the Six Nations Land Claims could answer the relevant questions on behalf of the Minister. Valladao also offered to set up a phone interview with the Chronicle and Doering before this week's deadline.
Haldimand County Mayor Marie Trainer told the Chronicle Sunday night that several phone calls and an email were sent to Minister Chuck Strahl's office asking for a meeting with Haldimand County Council. Somehow through this process the eight questions were lost; therefore the Minister never received them. Since then a phone conversation has taken place between Haldimand County CAO Don Boyle, Trainer and Doering. The conversation revealed that at this time the Minister would not be meeting with Haldimand County Council or the Six Nations of the Grand River. Trainer also sent the list of eight questions to Doering.
In an interview with the Chronicle late Monday afternoon, Doering said that he is looking forward to meeting with Haldimand County Council on November 17, 2009 from 3:00 to 4:30 pm. Doering could not confirm whether the meeting would be open to the public or not. "Haldimand County is the host of the meeting and the host should set the rules" said Doering.
Doering is also confident that he will have clear answers to the eight pertinent questions that have been put forth to the minister.
Doering told the Chronicle that he has not had a lot of invitations in the last 6-9 months, as there is not a lot to update at this time on the negotiations, he has however recently met with the Brantford Home Builders Association and the Rotary Club.
In an update from Mayor Trainer Tuesday afternoon the meeting with Mr. Doering and Haldimand County Council will take place at the Council in Committee meeting on Monday November 16, 2009 at 1:00 pm. The meeting is open to the public and will be televised.