Haldimand "Minister Bryant's Visit and Updates from Toby"

Well I attended the Council meeting today where Minister Bryant openly spoke with Haldimand County Council Members. I won't go into any details as you can watch the raw footage by visiting www.numberswatchdog.com it is under; Michael Bryant visited Haldimand County Council...see what happened (click on the video button) Numerous other media articles (click on Documentation) Thanks Numberswatchdog!

I strongly suggest that you view this video.

Here are some updates from Monday and today in the Legislature;

Toby here, April 21, 2008

Good afternoon, please find attached a news release and Hansard from two questions I asked of Michael Bryant today. They concern the fact that HDI is now expanding into Ancaster using the justification of the Nanfan Treat of 1701.

Have a good evening.

Development fees

Mr. Toby Barrett: To the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs. Today I want to talk about expansion.
This expansion is not good news. It’s about the expansion of the HDI and over the past few days, native protestors have turned their sights on the Ancaster Fairgrounds. The Ancaster Agricultural Society which received a letter from Six Nations asking for a donation plus the $500 fee.

The city of Hamilton, according to the Spectator, has said the issue is not a municipal one. I quote the director of planning. "It’s ... between the Agricultural Society and HDI."
Minister, your government told homebuilders during work along the Haldimand track that they’re own—and that was just two days before Sam Gualtieri was almost beaten to death.
Minister, will you now intervene or are Fairboards in Ontario now on their own?

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Minister of Aboriginal Affairs.

Hon. Michael Bryant: I think, as the member knows, the discussions between Haudenosaunee Six Nations, the province, the federal government and local municipality do cover broad range of issues—and are still underway.

The desire is to create a provincial side table that would allow for a whole host of issues to be addressed. I think it would be in error to imagine that every single individual would be speaking on behalf of Haudenosaunee Six Nations on issues such as that. I will continue to work with the chief McNaughton and members of the council, as well as municipalities and the federal government to try and come up with solutions.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary.

Mr. Toby Barrett: Minister, your government is talking with HDI and I’m sure you feel you are making progress as they continue to shut down local economies, site by site. Again, according to the Hamilton Spectator, HDI says, with respect to the Ancaster fair grounds, they are exerting their authority under the Nanfan Treaty of 1701 regarding hunting and fishing rights in southern Ontario, northern New York State, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan.

As you know, HDI feels their mandate now ranges beyond the former Haldimand track to encompass and I quote HDI’s the interim director in the Spectator: "The whole of North American continent." Now I know that’s a little out of your league minister, but in your deliberations with HDI, do you feel are you progressing towards a meeting of like minds? Do you know about this treaty? Do you agree with HDI using the Nanfan Treaty to now justify protesting outside the Haldimand tract?

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. Minister?

Hon. Michael Bryant: The member knows that main discussions take place with respect to land claims that have been filed with the federal government, where there is an appropriate provincial role and we play that role. That covers land claims certainly that do not extend as far as the member has suggested, with respect to some individuals, who have suggested that in fact the land claims are larger. The history is laid out in the Haldimand Proclamation of 1784, which I believe the member makes reference to. It was particularly unfortunate, I say, that in debating this issue, the member saw fit to mock the Haldimand Proclamation of 1784, which was seen—I should tell you—by the community as a major insult and affront to that community.

Our approach, in fact, is to negotiate with the parties on matters in which we believe we can come to a resolution and we’ll continue to do so.

Toby here, April 22, 2008

I hope everyone is enjoying the nice sunny weather. Here at Queen's Park land disputes continue to dominate Question Period. I have attached Hansard from this afternoon from my colleagues Bob Runciman and Randy Hillier. I hope you find this of interest.

Have a great evening. Toby

ORAL QUESTIONS

Native land disputes

Mr. Robert W. Runciman: I have a question to the Premier regarding the expansion of native protests across Ontario. Over the last number of weeks, Six Nations protestors have been blocking access to a number of construction sites in Brantford. Yesterday, the member from Haldimand-Norfolk raised the fact that Six Nations protesters are now blocking a development on the Ancaster fairgrounds. Yesterday, we learned that native protestors had set up a blockade on county road 2 in Deseronto, and have been occupying a nearby privately-owned quarry for some time.

Premier, whatever your government has been doing in Caledonia for the last two-plus years clearly isn’t working. The native protests are expanding. What do you plan to do about this escalating situation?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: To the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs.

Hon. Rick Bartolucci: Just as an update to the subject that the member raised, the blockade erected by Mohawk protestors in eastern Ontario has come down, and came down at about 10:00 a.m. today.

I note as well that the chief of the band council of the Tyendinaga Mohawk Council said yesterday that that council, and he as chief did not—I repeat, did not—sanction a blockade of the busy southern Ontario highway.

I think it’s important to note that, in fact, the blockade is down and that the chief and council exercised some leadership to indicate that this was not something sanctioned by their First Nation. Now those streets are free, and we’re pleased that it ended in a peaceful fashion.

Mr. Robert W. Runciman: We’re pleased that it’s ended, perhaps, temporarily in a peaceful situation. But the reality is that we’re not aware of any charges being laid. By failing to enforce the rule of law in Caledonia and Brantford, and refusing to shut down HDIs who are making what everyone would classify as extortion demands and what may fall under that classification in the Criminal Code of Canada, you are in fact giving tacit consent to further protests and blockades.

Developers are being told by the government not to pay the fees, but then you do nothing to stop the situation in Brantford and others areas. Minister, what are you going to tell the people of Brantford, Ancaster and Deseronto who are worried about their safety, their homes and their businesses? That they should "steel themselves," because as your Premier said to another issue, "This too shall pass?"

L031-1420-22 follows

(Mr. Robert W. Runciman)

... their safety, their homes, their businesses—that they should steel themselves because, as your Premier said to another issue, this too shall pass?
1420

Hon. Michael Bryant: I was speaking to Haldimand county council today and—in attendance were a number of citizens; obviously, the full council and the mayor were there—issues around what we are doing next were discussed. The answer is, negotiations are being encouraged that would see those who are on the street and at the work sites come off the street and off the work sites—and allow for discussions by way of negotiation.

It is, based on the recommendations of the Ipperwash commission, the recommended course of action not to escalate the tension, but rather to de-escalate the tension, and most importantly, to come to a lasting solution. That lasting solution will only happen if the parties sit down and negotiate, and that’s exactly the goal that we’re pursuing.

Mr. Randy Hillier: Premier, your government is creating a culture of violence and confusion. In Napanee and Deseronto, we expect nothing less than one law for every man and injustice for no man. You choose not to protect our communities from armed thugs, nor do you defend legal title to our properties. When will you stand up and protect property, stop the violence and end your policy of different laws for different people?

Hon. Michael Bryant: This comes from a member who—

Hon. Leona Dombrowsky: Shot deer out of season.

Hon. Michael Bryant: Well, shot deer out of season and blocked Highway 401.
If I’d closed my eyes, I could have heard the words of Mike Harris, when he said—

Mr. Randy Hillier: On a point of order, Mr. Speaker: Those comments are patently untrue. Unless that minister has evidence, I would ask him to withdraw those comments.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): It’s not a point of order, but I do remind the members to be conscious of their language. We’ve got a full gallery here again today. Anything that’s going to invoke stress within this chamber isn’t useful to any of us. Minister of Aboriginal Affairs.

Mr. Peter Kormos: On a point of order, Speaker: ??Standing order 23(a).

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): I thank the member for the reminder. Minister of Aboriginal Affairs.

Hon. Michael Bryant: The member makes reference to violence. In fact, the most violent confrontation, the one that gave rise to a public inquiry, was the Ipperwash confrontation—and in it, the recommendation from Commissioner Linden was very clear. It is not appropriate for the government to enter the law enforcement domain of the police. Law enforcement properly falls within the responsibility of the police. To maintain police independence, the government cannot direct when and how to enforce the law. It is for the police to decide whether and when arrests will be made and the manner in which they will be executed. We will continue to follow that advice.