Thursday, May 15, 2008

Haldimand "Who is Telling the Truth?"

Here are some updates from this week's Question Period. I must say that I would like to know who is telling the truth. I have read Chief Montour's letter, but I will not post it as I do not have Chief Montour's permission to do so.

I contacted Chief Montour's office today and hopefully he will have time to meet with me in person regarding this issue. If and when that happens I will update you.

Re: Barrett and Runciman call for RCMP investigation

Toby here, Question Period was more than interesting this morning as the Official Opposition continued to ask the Liberal government about their interference into OPP operational matters. Pasted below is a news release detailing the events of Question Period.

Take care.
Toby

For Immediate Release May 13, 2008

RUNCIMAN, BARRETT CALL FOR INVESTIGATION INTO LIBERAL INTERFERENCE IN OPP OPERATIONS IN CALEDONIA Runciman, Barrett say letter raises serious questions about government role in recent Caledonia blockade (Queen’s Park) –

Opposition Leader Bob Runciman and Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett today condemned the McGuinty Liberals for allegations that senior Ministers of the government interfered with recent Ontario Provincial Police operations in Caledonia.

"This letter is proof positive that as far as Chief Montour is concerned, both the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and the Minister of Community Safety intervened with the OPP in the recent Caledonia blockade," said Runciman. "It raises some very serious and troubling questions about the McGuinty government’s interference into the enforcement of the law in this province."

Runciman was referring to a letter dated April 29, 2008 from Six Nations of the Grand River Chief Bill Montour to Ontario’s Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, Michael Bryant. In the letter, Montour thanked Bryant for his ‘intervention in the police action on Saturday April 26, 2008’ and said that this intervention ‘has been instrumental in the reopening of the Caledonia by-pass’. The letter was also sent to Attorney General Chris Bentley and Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services, Rick Bartolucci.

"Someone here is not telling the truth," said Runciman. "By failing to address the letter, the Minister has left the issue open to speculation and doesn’t clearly admit or refute the Chief’s claims."

"The Minister has known about this issue since the end of April. He has a duty to the Crown and to the people of Ontario to uphold the law," said Barrett. "It’s time that the Minister committed to calling in the RCMP to investigate this issue and provide the people of Caledonia and all Ontarians with the answers they deserve."

For more information: Michelle Pennell (416) 325-9109

Re: Caledonia Cover-Up

Toby here, Further to the news release I sent you yesterday based on the questions asked by my colleague Bob Runciman and I, I am forwarding to you the final Hansard transcript which speaks to the letter Chief Montour sent to Minister Bryant, as well as a last minute Liberal question about Commissioner Fantino’s response via a letter to The Dunnville Chronicle.

This morning, 'Caledonia Cover-Up' and HDI demands in Cayuga were again front and centre during Question Period.

Take care.
Toby

NATIVE LAND DISPUTE Mr. Robert W. Runciman: My question is to the Attorney General.

Minister, you were copied with a letter dated April 29, 2008, from Chief Bill Montour of the Six Nations Council addressed to Minister Bryant. The letter reads: "First of all, I want to thank you on behalf of the Six Nations of the Grand River community for your intervention in the police action on Saturday April 26, 2008. Your intervention has been instrumental in the reopening of the Caledonia bypass."

Minister, this letter raises very serious and troubling questions about the interference of ministers in the enforcement of the law in this province. Have you commenced an investigation into this matter, and if not, why not?

Hon. Christopher Bentley: I remember that the question was asked, I believe, for the first time last week. The minister spoke directly to it and said he did no such thing. The question was repeated to my colleague, the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services, and he said he did no such thing. Because a letter is written, it does not make it so.

Mr. Robert W. Runciman: I don't think the Attorney General, in his role and with the responsibility he has, should slough it off in terms of the concerns expressed in this letter.
Chief Montour's letter doesn't just stop there, and I'm quoting again: "During the early evening of Saturday, an OPP camera vehicle was driving past the protest site taking pictures of individuals. The people believe this action by the OPP was initiated to be able to identify certain individuals for future charges to be laid. To this end, I'm asking you to again intervene with your colleague ministers to ask the OPP to not lay charges.

Attorney General, have you investigated Chief Montour's request? Has anyone in this government intervened and asked the OPP to not lay charges? And if you haven't looked into this, why haven't you?

Hon. Christopher Bentley: I'm going to give it to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs.
Hon. Michael Bryant: I'm very- Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): I'd ask the honourable member to withdraw the comment he just made, please.

Mr. Robert W. Runciman: I withdraw. Hon. Michael Bryant: This is a question coming from a party that every single day in the Legislature asks the government to interfere with police operations on a regular basis and then today stands up, suddenly converted by the Ipperwash inquiry, which was on that government, and has decided that interfering with police operations is wrong.

In fact, interfering with police operations is not only unconstitutional and contrary to the Ipperwash inquiry; it's certainly contrary to the actions of every member of this government. I will say it again: The approach of this government is to leave operational matters in the hands of-< /p>

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Final supplementary.

The member for Haldimand-Norfolk. Mr. Toby Barrett: This letter is evidence that as far as Chief Montour is concerned, both the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and the Minister of Community Safety intervened with the OPP regarding the Caledonia blockade.

Chief Montour is pleased with their intervention in the past, and he's asking them to do it again.

Minister, you have known about this since April 29. You have a duty to the crown and to Ontarians to uphold the law. Why have you taken no steps to investigate this? Will you commit today to calling in the RCMP to investigate these very serious allegations?

Hon. Michael Bryant: The member may want to ask the Attorney General if he directs the police. I can tell you, this Attorney General does not direct the police. In fact, members of the executive council do not direct the police: not this minister, not that minister, not that minister. But that party would know about how to direct police, because they literally wrote the book on it. We had to hold a public inquiry into that party's activities. That's the party that wanted to "get the Indians out of the park."

This is the party and the government that called the Ipperwash inquiry and is implementing the Ipperwash inquiry and is following the recommendations of the Ipperwash inquiry.

Interjections. Hon. Michael Bryant: No-shame on you.

NATIVE LAND DISPUTE Mr. Robert W. Runciman: My question is for the Premier and it has to do, again, with the letter from Chief Bill Montour of Six Nations council, which was addressed to Minister Bryant. What we've heard today is Minister Bryant effectively calling Chief Montour a liar. If you read the letter, the chief is essentially thanking the minister, on behalf of Six Nations, for his intervention in a police action. Your Attorney General has abdicated responsibility here today in terms of following up with an investigation of a very serious allegation that deals with obstruction of justice, Premier. I'm asking you if you will direct your Attorney General-clearly, he needs direction-to initiate a thorough investigation of this allegation.

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: The Minister of Aboriginal Affairs.

Hon. Michael Bryant: Look at that. Not only is this an instance where suddenly the official opposition is interested in interference; the official opposition is now asking the Premier to interfere with the chief legal officer's discretion.

Again and again and again, we say, on this side of the House, that interference is not something that ought to take place. It has certainly been reinforced by the Ipperwash inquiry conclusions, and it's something that we abide by on this side of the House, unlike that side of the House.

Mr. Robert W. Runciman: I guess we're getting a little tired of the rhetoric from this minister in not dealing with the issue at hand. Chief Montour has made a very serious accusation dealing with potential obstruction of justice. Your Attorney General is abdicating his responsibilities in the House today. Your Premier won't deal with the issue.

I'm asking you a straight-out question here, and try to answer it directly for a change: Are you calling Chief Montour a liar?

Hon. Michael Bryant: I can tell you one thing: Chief Montour, if he were here right now, would say that you hold no brief for him and you have zero standing to stand up for his reputation and views. I can tell you, I have a relationship where I have discussions with Chief Montour. Tell me a single member of that caucus who has bothered to pick up the phone and try to establish a relationship with the chief of Six Nations. How many? Zero.

That is a caucus that, time after time, has tried to fan the flames. This is a government that will continue to seek not only the recommendations of the Ipperwash commission but will continue to ensure that there is zero interference with police operations. We will continue an aggressive, determined effort to try and resolve these issues in a peaceful fashion.

NATIVE LAND DISPUTE Mrs. Carol Mitchell: My question is for the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs. The opposition has made a very serious allegation about directing the OPP. Can you please state clearly for this House whether this government ever directed the OPP? What has Commissioner Fantino said about this allegation?

Hon. Michael Bryant: In a published letter to the editor, OPP Commissioner Fantino wrote: "At no time during this event"-referring to the blocking of Highway 6-"or in relation to any police operation did anyone in government or elsewhere tell the OPP to stand down or direct the actions of the OPP.

"The decisions that resulted in the peaceful resolution of the road closure in Caledonia were based on ongoing dialogue between the OPP and Six Nations leaderships...."< /p>
Obviously, we're very supportive of the OPP actions. It is, I think, very helpful for the chief commissioner to have clarified that in a letter to the editor, which is obviously consistent with the information that I and others have provided to this House. I hope this resolves the matter.

Mrs. Carol Mitchell: There will be no supplementary, Mr. Speaker. I feel that the minister has answered my question quite clearly.

Re: ‘Caledonia Cover-Up’ continued and Cayuga

Toby here,

Yesterday Bob Runciman continued to hammer the Liberals on the ‘Caledonia Cover-Up’. I also asked questions about builder Mike Corrado’s site in Cayuga. I have attached the final Hansard transcript.

The feedback to these updates over the past week or so has been invaluable and I thank you for your responses.

Toby

NATIVE LAND DISPUTE

Mr. Robert W. Runciman: My question is to the Attorney General. It's regarding the letter sent by Six Nations Council Chief William Montour clearly suggesting that the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs intervened in an ongoing police investigation and prevented the laying of charges. That's potentially a serious criminal offence. Minister, given the clear and serious implications of what Chief Montour is saying in his letter-and you were copied on that letter as well-what did you do about it?

Hon. Christopher Bentley: That's right, I was copied on the letter.

The issue in the letter that the Leader of the Opposition makes reference to is answered directly by OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino in his letter to the Dunnville Chronicle, which the member should have had a copy of before raising the question. He says, "At no time during this event, or in relation to any police operation, did anyone in government or elsewhere tell the OPP to stand down or direct the operations of the OPP."
That thoroughly and completely addresses the issues raised by the Leader of the Opposition.

Mr. Robert W. Runciman: I would suggest that's an abdication of responsibility on the part of the Attorney General. Certainly we appreciate Commissioner Fantino's perspective, but what about Chief Montour's perspective? You're going to completely ignore it.

Given the seriousness of Chief Montour's comments and his request for further interventions with the police, can the Attorney General explain why he didn't bother to correct them? These are written criminal allegations made by a credible individual. Now you're getting up and the minister's getting up later and saying, "Well, now we're going to do it," after the letter became public. Why didn't you act? It was your responsibility to react.

Hon. Christopher Bentley: I'm not sure what part of Commissioner Fantino's letter you disagree with, so let me continue.

In the third paragraph: "The decisions that resulted in the peaceful resolution of the road closure in Caledonia were based on ongoing dialogue between the OPP and Six Nations leadership and on the OPP commitment to resolve such situations in the safest manner possible."

I'll continue on with the next paragraph: "The suggestion that political interference played a part is regrettable and untrue. OPP operational decisions are the purview of the police officers in charge. Decision-making is influenced by factors related to the event and the overall need to maintain order and preserve the peace. This is fully in keeping with the police role and authority."

This government does not direct the police. We do not direct the OPP. The commissioner is on the record. What part of that letter do you disagree with? Stand up and be counted.

Mr. Robert W. Runciman: I don't know who you're performing for, but it's certainly not the people of the province in terms of upholding the rule of law.

Chief Montour is a respected, credible individual. He's not someone who would fabricate a story about a minister of the crown interfering with police. He has nothing to gain, but this Minister of Aboriginal Affairs has a lot to lose even if he left the impression with Chief Montour that he was influencing police decisions.

Again, these are serious allegations coming from a credible source. They merit a full investigation, and I ask the Attorney General to take off his political hat, do the right thing, stop protecting a colleague and call in the RCMP.

Hon. Christopher Bentley: We have the commissioner of the OPP, who has not only called in but written in to the Chronicle on the very-

Mr. Peter Kormos: You're in the back pocket of the police.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): I'd just ask the member for Welland to withdraw the comment that he directed to the Attorney General, please.

Mr. Peter Kormos: Withdrawn.

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

Hon. Christopher Bentley: He has written on the very issue that is raised by the Leader of the Opposition, making clear the suggestion political interference played a part is regrettable and untrue. It is direct, it is clear, it is unequivocal.

We have lots of letters that are received in lots of places over lots of issues. You've heard from the ministers involved. Now you've heard from the OPP commissioner. I say to you again, what part of the OPP commissioner's direct response to the direct suggestion do you disagree with?

Interjection: Rumours.

Hon. Christopher Bentley: That's right. You want me to act on rumours.

NATIVE LAND DISPUTE

Mr. Toby Barrett: To the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs: Mike Corrado is the owner of a multi-residential site in Cayuga and he met with HDI several weeks ago, along with municipal and provincial officials. HDI requested this meeting after protesters blocked access to Mr. Corrado's land. In addition to a demand for a $3,000 application fee, they also demanded Mr. Corrado transfer title to his property to HDI and lease it back from them for the next 50 years.
You're a lawyer; you're the government. Is this not illegal? Is this not extortion? More specifically, Minister, are home builders now required to transfer title of their lands to Six Nations?

Hon. Michael Bryant: No.

Mr. Toby Barrett: Mr. Corrado would really appreciate a more fulsome answer. We've spoken with Mr. Corrado this morning. The blockades at his construction site are still up in spite of your "no." He's been told by Ruby Montour that the protesters will not leave and they'll never leave until he complies with HDI's demands, meaning transferring title of his land.

Again, Minister, is this not blackmail? Are deeds worth nothing? How many thousands of jobs are going to be lost; how many millions of dollars have to be spent on policing? The OPP have told Mr. Corrado they will merely act as peacekeepers; they will not intervene. My question is, do you agree with Mr. Corrado asking the OPP to lay criminal charges, asking the OPP to enforce the Criminal Code of Canada?

Hon. Michael Bryant: I spoke to the mayor of Brantford to discuss the municipal council's great frustration, the community's great frustration and the developer's great frustration with respect to what is taking place. A lot of efforts have been made to try and bring people together, to get them off of the streets and on to the negotiating table.

As the mayor said to me yesterday, at the heart of this are, in fact, unresolved claims, primarily along the Haldimand tract. Both the mayor and I agreed that it really is time for the federal government to set a deadline and say, "We're going to put all of our resources into resolving these claims. It is through that, that we are going to achieve justice." So I certainly want to add my voice to the mayor's and the local members when we say to the federal government, with respect to this 200-year-old dispute, that it is time for them to set a deadline and set it now.

23 comments:

  1. The truth? You want to know the truth? The truth is you are dealing with government and there is no truth, just a lot of blah, blah, blah. He said blah, then I said blah then the other guy said blah and on and on it blahs. Every blah from all sides of the fence bury the truth a little deeper until ultimately, if the truth were to jump up and bite you in the ass you wouldn't recognize it because it just blends in with all the other blah,blah,blah.

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  2. Our municipal,provincial,and federal governments have always to some degree directed policing.For example,the liberal federal government in the 70s called a state of emergancy and brought the military armed on street corners to find and supress the terrorist/kidnappers of that day! On the same weekend of the blockade on hwy 6 Caledonia ,Haldimand County through its planning dept directed by its council sent a bylaw officer to dunnville autodrome/airport to find the owner of a bylaw infraction (thats is being debated in our courts as to if it is even legal).This county council wish they could do something they say,.. Direct the bylaw officer to the blockade and fine and remove the protester and the opp can watch to keep the peace

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  3. A full investigation into this matter is necessary. The truth needs to come out, and when it does the person who has told the lie here needs to be held accountable. We should not just allow this to slip away, Toby is doing a great job!

    And Donna I wish you luck in your endeavour to meet with Chief Montour. I highly doubt that this meeting will ever take place.

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  4. I agree with this comment;

    Chief Montour is a respected, credible individual. He's not someone who would fabricate a story about a minister of the crown interfering with police. He has nothing to gain, but this Minister of Aboriginal Affairs has a lot to lose even if he left the impression with Chief Montour that he was influencing police decisions.

    It is time for the RCMP to be brought in to investigate this.

    If this current government is found to be the liers they should all be removed, or just have a new election.

    I too hope that you meet with Chief Montour Donna I find it hard to believe that he would lie.

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  5. I can tell you for a fact Donna that Chief Montour is a good Man and he is not a liar. I can also tell you that I believe he will meet with you.

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  6. It is my firm belief that Chief Montour meant every word in his letter to Michael Bryant.

    Granted he cannot say what transpired after his telephone call with Michael Bryant but events spoke for themselves as the OPP were threatening to arrest and remove protesters until after his call to Michael Bryant.

    Chief Montour did not call Commissioner Fantino but rather called Michael Bryant. Why? Was he told previously by Michael Bryant that if there were problems call him and he would take care of it as he told the Haldimand Council. In his meeting with Haldimand he made it clear he saw himself as the clearing house for all their issues.

    Someone is hiding the facts in this situation and I don't think it is Chief Montour.

    Lisa

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  7. I think it is fair to assume that various government and police mucky mucks were contacted by various people regarding the inflammatory behaviour of the OPP in Tyendinaga. I know I sent a scathing email directly to Fantino myself.

    Who knows why Fantino pulled his squad out when he did. No one knows why, and no one ever will. However, it is true that by that time all Tyendinaga reclaimers were back on the quarry site where they have been for months, so there was no further need for Fantino's squad.

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  8. If the government is truth, then that means that the rest of us are lying.

    There is no violence in Caledonia ?

    There is no 2 tier policing ?

    Bryant is not telling someone to tell someone to tell Fantino to back off and don't lay charges against native lawlessness ?

    Work site occupations are not happening ?

    The McGuinty regime is doing one hell of a fine job to keep these native renegades in line ?

    Enough, is enough,... this is making me sick. It's time to take matters to task under a civil revolt against these thugs and the Ontario gevernment.

    Sorry,.. I have to run and barf again...

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  9. Thanks for your comments.

    The truth always comes to the surface, it just takes a bit of time.

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  10. I'm all for "civil revolt" (I assume civil means without weapons?) against the government ... any of our governments!

    It is our democratic DUTY, when they screw up this bad!
    It's not the cops' fault. ;)

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  11. It is the cops fault.
    Everyone of those officers knows when the law is being broken especially when it is right in front of them or they themselves are victims. Someone has told them to stand down other than Fantino.
    You cannot run society with racial policing. Who decides which people are allowed to be victimized and which people are allowed free reign????? That is the question that needs to be answered.

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  12. This update from Toby came in after I posted this blog;

    More on the Caledonia Cover-Up

    Please bear with me however, there has been tremendous attention paid to the Caledonia blockade. Yesterday, the issue was again raised by my colleague Bob Runciman. I have pasted the Hansard transcript for you.

    Toby



    NATIVE LAND DISPUTE

    Mr. Robert W. Runciman: My question is to the Deputy Premier regarding Six Nations Chief Montour's letter of April 29, thanking the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs for intervening with the OPP in Caledonia.

    Today in the Hamilton Spectator, Chief Montour is quoted as saying, "I asked Minister Bryant if he had any influence on his fellow cabinet colleagues to look at ways we could relieve the situation." He was referring to the blockade in Caledonia.

    Montour quotes Minister Bryant as saying, "Look Chief, you know I can't act directly with anyone, but I'll see who I can talk to and see if something can be done."< /p>

    The minister said he would get involved, and the chief was left with the distinct impression that as a result of the minister's intervention, the OPP stood down.

    Deputy Premier, will your government investigate what are clearly serious allegations?

    Hon. George Smitherman: Minister of Aboriginal Affairs.

    Hon. Michael Bryant: Chief Montour certainly didn't refer to any serious allegations. He referred to the efforts of the official opposition as a "witch hunt." Chief Montour is of the view that in fact there was a peaceful ending, that it was positive, that there were open lines of communication between the OPP and Six Nations leadership. Commissioner Fantino has indicated that everything proceeded exactly as it should and that he has never been a part of or associated with interference in any fashion.

    I would repeat again what Commissioner Fantino said: "At no time during this event, or in relation to any police operation, did anyone in government or elsewhere tell the OPP to stand down or direct the operations of the OPP."

    I'm sure that the member will accept the commissioner's word.

    Mr. Robert W. Runciman: There's no question it is a hunt, but it's a hunt for the truth, and we're certainly not getting it from this government.

    I have to say it's unbelievably inappropriate, when allegations are being made about a minister, in terms of his conduct, by a very credible individual in this province, that the question is referred to the individual in question. That is terribly, terribly inappropriate. How are we going to get a straight answer with respect to whether or not there was interference with police decisions in this situation if the minister in question is having the questions referred to him? It boggles the mind.

    Will the minister stand up and tell us who he did speak to, what was discussed, what else we are going to do? That's your position-you're referring everything to him. Get up and start answering some questions. Who did you talk to? What was discussed? Will you give us an independent investigation?

    1100

    Hon. Michael Bryant: The leader of the official opposition refers to Chief Montour as a very respected individual, and of course that's absolutely true, that's absolutely right, and I absolutely agree with him. I speak to Chief Montour on a very regular basis. I exchanged messages last night with him with respect to the new relationship fund that was established today, a very important fund that will allow the levelling of the playing field in discussions between governments and First Nations.

    This very credible individual has referred to the efforts of the member, today and otherwise, in this House with respect to this issue as a witch hunt. So I would ask the member to take the word of the highly respected individual, Chief Montour, to take the word of the highly respected individual, Commissioner Fantino, and accept that everything happened exactly the way it ought to happen, and that at the end of the day, there was a peaceful resolution-

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

    Mr. Robert W. Runciman: Not surprisingly, the minister again refused to answer the specific questions, and the questions raised by the chief in his letter. He assured the chief that he would get involved, he'd make some calls, he'd see if something could be done. We've asked him today to explain that, to explain what he said to the chief. He says the chief is a credible individual, and he's making some credible claims here that you have a responsibility to respond to. These are serious, serious allegations.

    How many other times did the minister make a call to see if something could be done? Is that why we have had such lawlessness in Caledonia for the past two years?

    If this government fails to commence an immediate and independent investigation into this matter, from here on, everything this government and the OPP do with respect to Caledonia is going to continue to fall under a cloud of suspicion. Will he call in an independent body to conduct an investigation and do it now?

    Hon. Michael Bryant: Well, there we go. I think everybody heard loud and clear what the concern here is. It's not, in fact, that there were discussions between the government and the OPP, which did not take place; it's that somehow there have been peaceful results. It's that at the end of the weekend, as the member for Haldimand says, "There were no arrests in Caledonia. There were in Deseronto, but none in Caledonia."

    There's been an independent investigation all right: It's called the Ipperwash inquiry. In the Ipperwash inquiry, there were findings and there were recommendations. Obviously one of the recommendations is that the police be independent. The Leader of the Opposition is absolutely wrong when he suggests that there has been any inappropriate contact between the government and the OPP. And who do I cite in support? I cite Chief Commissioner Julian Fantino, who says that at no time has there ever been interference. I will accept the word of Commissioner Fantino.

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  13. All across Ontario, the OPP are acting in a consistent manner to uphold the Constitutional rights of everyone while the governments stall at getting their act together to resolve the real issues.

    The real issues are 1) title and ownership of the land and 2) the province's failure to consult about development on disputed land. Until governments address those issues, the OPP will keep the peace. Makes sense to me.

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  14. The real issue is that while the issues of the above poster are being ironed out, innocent people are being assaulted, harassed, and threatened. Just how is all this helping the process of land ownership and building?????

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  15. Thank you for the excellent comment!

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  16. Anon,

    It isn't supposed to help building. That's the whole point.

    The province and the municipality have not done their 'due diligence' before issuing permits: They have no agreement in place to allow building to go ahead.

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  17. The comment from "g" is not quite true. I will try to clarify.

    The Provincial and Federal government have the "duty to consult" and that is as far as it goes. Haldimand has the Grand River Notification Agreement that has been in place since the 1990's. Haldimand has adhered to this agreement.

    When Haldimand gives a permit allowing a development it has gone through all of the proper channels.

    It is that simple. Haldimand does not have the responsibility of duty to consult.

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  18. Technically, you are correct. However, a 'technical' argument makes little sense when everyone knows the truth: Six Nations must be consulted before any development can take place. They are within their rights not to allow development without an agreement in place. No agreement, no development. The arguing about whose responsibility it is to consult with them is not their problem to solve.

    The municipality pleads ignorance of the law at its own risk, knowing that new guidelines are in preparation. Pretty sleazy.

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  19. Thanks again for your comments.

    "G" I would like to address what you have posted, and I hope that we can agree to disagree.

    You state the following;

    "The arguing about whose responsibility it is to consult with them is not their problem to solve".

    I would like to add that at what price are you willing to pay? The people that are being directly affected by this are "third parties". The Municipality, Provincial and Federal governments are all dancing around a very serious issue, and the real price is being paid by "Third Parties".

    I will explain what I mean by "Third Parties";

    When a developer purchases land and the title is free and clear, and an occupation occurs why does the developer pay the price for this? Now in stating this isn't it the "Provincial Government" the one who deems your "title and deed" free, if it is not "free and clear" there is no sale of the said land!

    Actually I must correct myself about the above statement as the developer is already finished at this point (at least here in Haldimand) and it is now the "builder" that is being stopped by the "occupiers".

    So I can state this;

    "The arguing about whose responsibility it is to solve "land claims" is not our problem to solve".

    Isn't that what this is all about, land claims? Do the builders solve "land claims"? No. So here we go the people that are really paying the price are the "third parties".

    I don't have the answers, but what I see happening is not the answer either. I have stated many times that I get pretty pissed off at all levels of government (just read my blog) but I don't take it out on my neighbours.

    There are many people that are out of work and are suffering financially,(third parties again)and really how fair is that?

    I could go on but I won't. When it comes to posting comments like this I would rather speak to a person in person. I am not hard to find, in fact my number is in the phone book and we are the only Pitcher's in Haldimand, please call me if you would like to carry this conversation further.

    Again thank you everyone for your comments!

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  20. Where were the "neighbours" when the land was being stolen from them? Right there eager to buy it, not caring that it was stolen from Six Nations, that's where.

    The "neighbours" argument is growing pretty thin, because it usually comes from people who have not behaved like "neighbours" at all.

    The "neighbours" can look to their own (our own) governments for the necessary solutions, because that is where the problems started and that is where they continue to be.
    If you are frustrated with your own (our own) governments lack of action, that is no excuse for taking it out on your "neighbours".

    No, this is not just about "land claims". Aboriginal rights are broader than that. Aboriginal rights include the right to be consulted about any development on traditional aboriginal land, whether it is under claim or not, regardless of who has 'title'. This is the law that our governments are desperately trying to evade. Canada has grown used to keeping all the revenues from aboriginal land. That is where our standard of living comes from. That is where our budget surpluses come from.

    It is definitely time for Canadians to take a financial hit while Indigenous people regain what is legally theirs: A say in development and a share in revenues on their traditional land. Without those agreements in place, there should be no building in the Haldimand Tract.

    The solutions have to come from government. For the first time in our history, an Indigenous community is standing up to Canada and defending their rights. The only reason they can do that now is because the police cannot attack them in secret anymore as they always have. Where were the "neighbours" in 1959 when the RCMP was beating up men, women and children at the Six Nations Council House? In fact, what have the "neighbours" EVER done to stop Canada's aggression against their Six Nations "neighbours" ?? Anything?? EVER??

    I am thoroughly ashamed of my country. Anybody who truly understands our history would feel the same. Six Nations is not sitting around being pissed off at our governments. They are taking action and I say more power to them!

    You hit a nerve with that "neighbours" comment, Donna. I have not seen any neighbourly behaviour whatsoever! Only the opposite. If it has ever existed, please tell me about all the time the "neighbours" helped Six Nations against our governments. I am waiting with baited breath. (not)

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  21. I certainly didn't mean to hit a nerve with my neighbours comment.

    I truly believe that "most" people are "good" people. When I say "people" I mean "all" people, when I say neighbours, you don't have to live next door to me to be my neighbour.

    I certainly do not know what to say in regards to past actions by police, governments etc. There have been many wrongs against First Nations Peoples.

    Like I said "g" I don't have all the answers, and I hoped that we would "agree to disagree".

    I would still like to speak to you on a person to person call.

    My phone number is 905-701-1627, you can contact me usually around 9:00am. I look forward to hearing from you.

    Donna

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  22. Exactly. Many wrongs ... and our governments continue to do wrong.

    And that is our problem and our responsibility to change.

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  23. Thank you "g". You are correct, our governments keep doing wrong and it is our responsibility to change things. Peacefully.

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