Hudak opposes handing over DCE

McGuinty government will not deny rumours about Douglas Creek Estates

Queen’s Park – Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak and his caucus oppose handing Douglas Creek Estates over to Six Nations.

On the heels of reports stemming from a Friday night meeting between Haldimand County officials and Ontario’s Attorney General, Hudak made it clear in the Ontario Legislature that he and his caucus members feel very differently about this than Mr. McGuinty.

“This is the four-year anniversary of the McGuinty Liberal government abandoning the rule of law and leaving the residents of Caledonia to fend off home invaders on their own,” Hudak stated during question period.

“The Hamilton Spectator is reporting today the McGuinty government plans to hand over the Douglas Creek Estates to the Six Nations. The Ontario PC caucus opposes this move. We believe it is the wrong thing to do,” Hudak told the House.

While Hudak was quick to define his party’s position, the McGuinty government would neither confirm nor deny the report.

“As Attorney General and Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, I can tell you that no decisions have been made with respect to the Douglas Creek Estates property,” Bentley said. “What we have done and what we continue to do is encourage people who live as neighbours to engage in productive discussions. The future of any relationship begins with those productive discussions and we will continue to encourage that.”

Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett said that Minister Bentley’s response only added fuel to the fire by creating even more uncertainty. Barrett has received a number of phone calls and emails over the weekend asking if the rumours of the land being turned over are true.

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Aboriginal land dispute

Mr. Tim Hudak: To the Acting Premier: February is the four-year anniversary of the McGuinty Liberal government abandoning the rule of law and leaving the residents of Caledonia to fend off home invaders on their own.

The Hamilton Spectator is reporting today the McGuinty government plans to hand over the Douglas Creek Estates to the Six Nations. The Ontario PC caucus opposes this move. We believe it is the wrong thing to do.

Acting Premier, can you please tell us why you are planning to hand over Douglas Creek Estates

L205-1105-22 follows

(Mr. Tim Hudak)

... the Ontario PC caucus opposes this move. We believe it is the wrong thing to do.

Acting Premier, can you please tell us why are you planning to hand over Douglas Creek Estates to Six Nations at this point in time?

Hon. Leona Dombrowsky: To the Attorney General.

Hon. Christopher Bentley: As Attorney General and Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, I can tell you that no decisions have been made with respect to the Douglas Creek Estates property.

What we have done and what we continue to do is encourage people who live as neighbours to engage in productive discussions. The future of any relationship begins with those productive discussions and we will continue to encourage that. No decisions have been made with respect to the land. We continue to work very hard as a province trying to bring everybody to the table and look forward to an evermore energetic federal government to help resolve a 200-year-old land claim.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary? The member from Halton.

Mr. Ted Chudleigh: To the AG: In court testimony, a woman described her terror on a night when she was alone with her child in her home and bandits broke into her home. She called the police; no one came. Criminals ransacked the house, electronics were smashed, upholstery shredded, mattresses were urinated on and china was smashed. “White trash”, “pigs” and “racists” was written on the walls and those are just the words that I can repeat in this chamber.

An Ontario family’s home is invaded and Dalton McGuinty does nothing for them. Why are you treating the lives of Ontario families like they are just another issue to be managed?

Hon. Christopher Bentley: Nobody—I won’t speak to the specific—but nobody should be treated in any way, shape or form other than in a way we all expect to be treated. Those in charge of effecting security in the area have a very challenging job and are working very hard at it. But I would come back to the point I made to the Leader of the Opposition: At the end of the day, it’s building relationships. The MPP for Brant, Dave Levac, has worked very hard to help build those relationships. I would encourage the members opposite, rather than taking the opportunity today to ask the type of questions they do, to engage in a productive way to help build those relationships and to bring a more energetic federal government to the table because a 200-year-old land claim can only be solved by the federal government. We need action now.