Haldimand "Minister Bryant will not Answer Toby Barrett"
Hi Toby here,
Please find attached a news release with regard to my third day of questioning to Aboriginal Affairs Minister Michael Bryant regarding extortion demands of the Haudenosaunee Development Institute.
For immediate release: March 20, 2008
Barrett calls for investigation, charges into HDI
Minister won’t look into payment demands holding up builders/governments
Queen’s Park— For the third day in a row, Ontario’s Aboriginal Affairs Minister refused to address questions regarding Haudenosaunee Development Institute (HDI) strong-arm techniques to extort fees from homebuilders, and now governments.
Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett picked up his line of questioning from two previous days of queries to ask where government stands regarding HDI demands for fees.
“Minister, on November 30th – last year – your government met with HDI- the Six Nations Haudenosaunee Development Institute,” stated Barrett. “After your meeting, you, your government, received a letter from HDI – this according to the National Post – demanding a $7,000 fee….or else further talks would be prevented from occuring.”
“Minister, you now have evidence – in writing – of this extortion by HDI we’ve been hearing about. Will your government lay charges?”
Before denying any knowledge of the HDI payment letter, the Minister said it was up to the police to lay charges.
Barrett went on to cite further HDI payment demands.
“Official plans for the city of Brantford, Brant County, Norfolk County, Haldimand County, East Luther – Grand Valley, and the City of Hamilton rural plan are all on hold.” Barrett reported in his supplementary question. “‘All construction from roads to homes will be stopped if an Ontario ministry does not pay for a Haudenosaunee Development Institute review of the Haldimand County Official Plan’ says the Dunnville Chronicle.
“And this from Aaron Detlor, ‘financial institutions ….will completely back away from any development.’ ‘if the ministry refuses to pay, there will be repercussions,’ Detlor said. There you have it Minister – a public threat of “repercussions”. Minister when will you investigate and charge HDI with extortion?”
Bryant responded that the action Barrett is requesting would “further divide” the local communities.
For more information, please contact MPP Toby Barrett at: (519) 428-0446 or 1-800-903-8629
Toby needs to come up with some actual material and efforts that will effectively help ALL of Haldimand County instead of regurgitating the same meal over and over and over again.
ReplyDeleteIt's getting really tiresome watching his supporters feign to the side while the die hards keep on spewing his crap.
There is not one thing that I have read in these past postings of Toby's by you Donna, that so much as offers a viable effort to make a difference in this mess....NOT ONE! Not even 'hope' or 'light at the end of the tunnel' that MPP Barrett is actively and or creatively looking for solutions to bring and end with resolution for all involved.
Talk about a 'lame duck'.
Anonymous above must be blind if he/she has not read the Hansard in the last three days. How better should Mr. Barrett phrase the question about the extortion by the HDI to get a honest answer???
ReplyDeleteSince anonymous seems to detest Toby so much, what is he/she's member of choice doing that is any better???? I applaud his efforts.
We are the chumps in this for not insisting their is legislature making it law that MPP's must answer questions honestly and not skirt around the issues or insult another member in answering. We need recall and accountablility .
There should also be a mechanism in place to place the Liberals on notice of an investigation if the opposition believes law has been contravened by the ruling government. This BS in the legislature is a waste of our time and money if those involved refuse to answer honestly or within the law of the land.
Mary-Lou
We, all of us, on both sides of the fence in this circle game find ourselves once again having to choose between two evils. On one hand we (either side) can force the issues and go to war, on the other hand we (on either side) can sit back in frustration, demand action from our leaders and watch them endlessly pass the buck. I don't like either choice but for the life of me I can't come up with a third option. I sure wish somebody would because with either of the existing choices a lot of good people are in one way or another getting or going to get hurt.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments.
ReplyDeleteI found an interesting article that shows that McGuinty's government is not listening period!
"Local MPP Toby Barrett is encouraged to see the federal government taking some leadership on the issue of carbon sequestration to reduce greenhouse emissions at Nanticoke.
Environment Minister John Baird announced all future coal-fired power plants and oil sands projects will be required to capture carbon dioxide emissions and inject them underground for permanent storage.
Barrett says he is still waiting for a response from Premier McGuinty a year-and-a-half after first writing him on the issue. Barrett continues to advocate for continued anti-pollution upgrades at OPG Nanticoke and the exploration of carbon capture, given the Ontario Government is not advocating nuclear at Nanticoke.
He continues to call for government to hold hearings for public input on potential new energy plans for the Nanticoke area.
http://www.cd989.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=11784
We need to stay on the topic in hand!!! The McGuinty's government NOT responding is a form of guilt: don't know how to answer the question!!!
ReplyDeleteJim Smith
It seems to me we continue to debate content which leads to the circular kind of conversations/responses we have seen for two years now. Mr. Barrett continues to contribute to those circular conversations asking the same questions and expecting a different answer. It's much more complex then his questions reflect- IMO.
ReplyDeleteWhat if we started asking how we can move forward in a way that reflects what we as Canadians are supposed to value and believe in such as dignity, justice, respect, diversity?
What if we looked at how to engage in conversations with these entities that stood on respect, and learning rather then accusation, and defensive posturing?
What if we looked to a vision that would serve all rather then just the privileged?
These are questions of process and may brighten the light at the end of the tunnel.
J.
Thanks for your comments Jim and J.
ReplyDeleteJ you make a valuable point, but I must add that I feel in order to move ahead you cannot bury your head in the sand. Too many "people" are looking to "our" government for answers.
You state this;
"What if we started asking how we can move forward in a way that reflects what we as Canadians are supposed to value and believe in such as dignity, justice, respect, diversity?"
Very well Said!
Toby may have asked the same questions of Minister Bryant for "3" days, and yes you are right that this is a circular conversation, but on who's part?
I personally believe that in order to move forward these questions need to be "answered" by Minister Bryant period.
All sides are effected by the actions or inactions of "our" government. Until the government starts taking "full" responsibility for what they are responsible to do for "ALL", we will keep going in circles.
I certainly don't have an answer, well maybe I do have some suggestions, but who the hell am I?
I do agree with you that we must move forward. I also believe that we cannot move forward without the "respect" from "all" parties involved.
And I do strongly believe that "ALL" levels of government have failed "ALL" of us!
Hi Donna,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your response.
You noted: "I personally believe that in order to move forward these questions need to be "answered" by Minister Bryant period."
How would that be useful? What might the effects be? How might that position assist the process to move forward in a way that serves ALL? IMO to try to corner Minister Bryant becomes a distraction from taking steps that are congruent with ideas of justice, respect, dignity, economic development, etc. It sounds like frustration is getting the best of us????
Or should we be directing our focus to the Federal Government & Crown (perhaps) asking them to act in ways that reflects the values we hold?
Hope this is useful.
J.