A controversial group that argues the OPP have ignored natives breaking the law during the Caledonia lands claim dispute is aiming to run a slate of candidates in the municipal election for Haldimand County Council.
Two members of Canadian Advocates for Charter Equality (CANACE), which has mounted rallies in Caledonia over the policing dispute and native smoke shops, have announced they will run for council in the Oct. 25 election. Merlyn Kinrade plans to run in Ward 2 and Doug Fleming will run in Ward 3, which covers Caledonia.
Activist and CANACE president Gary McHale won't confirm he'll run for mayor of the seven-member council, but says he is thinking it over and plans to make an announcement after Victoria Day. He says many have asked him to run.
"I've certainly looked into to it to make sure I qualify and I live up to all of the rules," McHale said yesterday. "I've looked into what it would take, so I'm seriously considering it."
One issue would be his residence as he presently lives in Binbrook.
"All I have to do is rent property in Haldimand County," said McHale, who moved to the area from Richmond Hill because he believed laws were being broken by natives and ignored by the OPP. He ran as an independent in Haldimand-Norfolk in the 2008 federal election and garnered 10 per cent of the vote, or 4,821 votes.
So far, three people have registered to run for mayor, including Ward 2 Councillor Buck Sloat and Ken Hewitt, former head of the Caledonia Citizens' Alliance Group, which was formed in 2006 during the height of the land claims dispute. Mayor Marie Trainer plans to register in June after her annual golf tournament.
Six Nations members occupied the Douglas Creek Estates housing project in February 2006, saying the land was never surrendered. The province bought the site from the developers after a botched OPP raid. It remains in native hands.
McHale has clashed with OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino and laid a private prosecution against Fantino in connection with allegedly threatening Haldimand officials. The Crown stepped in and withdrew the charge this year. McHale was charged in connection with the rally, but the charge was dropped this year and a court order banning him from entering Caledonia was lifted.