For immediate release:

December 10, 2010

Number of inquiries into G20  –  4

Number of inquiries into Caledonia - 0

Simcoe – Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett is joining those questioning why justice concerns in Toronto are put under government’s microscope, while Caledonia concerns are ignored.

“The math just doesn’t add up,” charged Barrett. “It’s been five and a half months since G20 incidents led to calls for inquiries into the application of justice – calls that have resulted in four separate inquiries and/or reviews.

“Meantime, it’s been four and a half years since Caledonia land occupation issues prompted calls from many corners, including three from the Opposition benches, for public inquiries into the application of justice. The result? No action, no inquiries, and no answers.”

In his 125 page report on G20 law enforcement, Caught in the Act, Ontario Ombudsman Andre Marin, is the latest to weigh in on the late June protests in Toronto, adding to an ongoing inquiry from former Ontario chief justice Roy McMurtry, a review by the Office of the Independent Police Review Director, and a review by the Toronto Police Services Board.

“The last few days of the Ontario legislature’s fall-winter session focused almost exclusively on the Ombudsman’s G20 report – people wonder why the Ombudsman hasn’t chosen to provide a similar analysis for Caledonia,” Barrett continued. “We in Ontario's Opposition have three times called for a public inquiry - first after the OPP raid; second, with my Truth about Caledonia Act; and then with Attorney General Critic Ted Chudleigh's Public Inquiry into Caledonia Act.”

Barrett’s frustration with Caledonia being given short-shrift led to him being sanctioned by the Speaker a handful of times in the Ontario Legislature recently. Barrett was asked by the Speaker to withdraw statements about a ‘Caledonia cover-up’ – as well as the issue of McGuinty ‘not having a spine’.

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For more information, please contact MPP Toby Barrett at
(519) 428-0446 or (905)-765-8413, 1-800-903-8629