The effects of the Caledonia fiasco extend far beyond the borders of that Southern Ontario town. We have all been shocked by the lack of direction from the McGuinty government - indeed by the role of enabler that has been taken to accommodate this dysfunctional breach of democracy. We will be paying for this impotent leadership for a long time.
We have lost faith in our police. The damage will be difficult to repair. We have seen the OPP stand by, watching the flagrant abuse of citizens' rights taking place directly in front of them - and do nothing. This fragile trust has been shattered.
Ontario now has a two-tiered justice system where one group appears to be above the law, and the rest of the province pays the price financially and emotionally.
This once proud province has been reduced to a helpless hostage at the mercy of whatever it takes to keep the peace.
However, just as in a turbulent household where one child is favoured over another, the anger simmers and churns - until the moment it explodes.
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27 comments:
I would really like to know the approximate population of natives in this country. The amount of money it takes to placate this small population is beyond ridiculous.
"There is an urgent need for 80,000 new housing units across Canada and 44 per cent of the existing 88,750 units are in critical need of repairs. Some 54 per cent of on-reserve houses are in substandard condition." - Ashley Ford (Canwest) The Province June 21, 2006.
It will NEVER be enough! And add into the mix that anyone with an ounce of native blood/metis blood can qualify for tax breaks (Hey, how about no GST on a brand new car?) The list goes on and on. I've seen it first hand from when I was a little girl, watching all the native children get free school supplies every year.
Don't these people want to take charge of their own lives? Living a hand-to-mouth existence has to be demeaning! Earning what you have makes you respect what you have, and makes you respect yourself.
I think it's a pretty big possibility that McGuinty's out on his butt next election... but I don't live in Ontario so I only have an observer's opinion.
But from the "ROC outside of Canada" perspective, McGuinty's been acting like a spoiled baby. he's always mad at someone for not paying enough attention to him, not listening to him, or speaking to someone OTHER than him.... by this I mean he is very ego-centric and he strikes me as a supporter of "McGuinty" rather than "Ontario".
But I could be wrong...
McGuinty's just one peon in this debacle. I wonder how any of the other premiers would have handled this situation. And yes, it could happen absolutely anywhere in this country. I'm speaking from BC, and I think Campbell would be caving in pretty quickly as well.
Oh, and Joanne, hope you are feeling better quickly! I've never suffered from that affliction, but I know many who have and it's definitely a tough thing to deal with! Take care of yourself!
Yes, I think you're both reading this situation quite correctly. Legitimate claims are one thing, but total disregard for the law is another.
McGuinty is trying to buy himself out of this mess, and then he screams deficit!
So I guess he wants the rest of Canada to subsidize his spineless leadership.
Is there anything here that would discourage this type of action in the future with other claims? It works. No repercussions.
Thanks, Soccermom!
*Deep sigh* Isn't this great? Everything so nice and civilized. Why didn't I do this sooner?
Soccermom, I couldn't agree with you more. It will never be enough. At some point, the "powers that be", will have to say "enough". We need to say that we're sorry that our forefathers did things wrong, but time has passed and I believe that we have made enough amends in the things that the natives are given: Ie: no taxes, free education etc. We need to say that as of a certain date, you will be expected to be full citizen of Canada. Get a job, earn a living and contribute to the fabric of our society. That doesn't mean that you have to give up your hertiage, but it does mean working together for the betterment of all. We have done no favours by keeping the natives on reserves. All this placating has been a mistake that we need to rectify. And if we don't, they will continue to ask for more and we will see blockade after blockade. If you have a job, you can't spend 100 days at a blockade.
Kelly - Well said!
"Just can't stay away
Well that mini-vacation didn't take long Jo.
Who says that blogging's addictive?
Either way, glad to have you back.
Thanks, Zac. I'll have to turn off the computer altogether to get away from it!!!
Kelly, that's exactly what needs to be done! But what politician could say that and not be called racist and bigot by the lefties? It's not going to happen in my lifetime. I would not be surprised if McGuinty is re-elected; after all, Torontonians keep on voting for the federal Liberals and look at that can of worms. The Kelowna Accord was just another attempt at solving a problem that won't be solved by just throwing more money at it.
This topic is very frustrating to me. I can feel my blood pressure rising every time I think about it! It's soooo much more than Caledonia.
I can feel my blood pressure rising every time I think about it!
Breath...breah SM. Breath.
In with the good, out with the bad.
Agreed! There is no will to want to do the right thing. At what point will they (government) realize that they HAVE to do something? I think they will wait with their collective heads in the sand until the natives threaten to take the land that their offices sit on, along with the towns along the Grand River and along Lake Huron. It is not going to stop. They are only worried about how THEY will look... and I have news for them, they look like cowards to me.
But, I will also take Zac's wise advice...."in with the good, out with the bad!"
It is an outrage that the government will not disclose how much of our money they spent to appease these lawless folks - we paid for it, so we have a right to know how much.
There will be more of these Indian terrorist incidents this summer - McGuinty just proved they can get away with it, scott free.
BTW does anybody know what ever happened to those 7 Indians that almost ran over a cop and were supposed to be arrested?
It was not that long ago that someone was Demanding to know exactly what McStupid should do about this.
The results of the inaction by that pathetic excuse for a Premier of Ontatio has set in motion or at least abetted an ongoing chain of events that will continue to cost (unnecessarily) all of us....as if things are not bad enough!
All the twit had to do was Enforce the Law!
Kelly - I would love to see the natives take over Queen's Park! Wonder what McWimpy would do then?
Andrew, I think there were some arrests, but not many. If I find anything definitive on that, I'll post it.
Well, if the federal Liberals want an out-and-out guarantee that they will be elected next time out, and with a majority, here is the issue for them. Tell the natives: by this future date, the money will no longer be sent your way. You must stand up for yourselves and earn your way in this world like the rest of us.
Heck, even I would vote Liberal if a candidate came out with this one!
Heck, I would even vote *gasp* NDP if they came out with this one! (OK, of course that will never happen!)
A Conservative could NEVER get away with anything remotely resembling this idea. This reform is going to have to come from the left.
Andrew, I mentioned in a previous post a couple of weeks ago that these natives are homegrown terrorists as well, and I got labelled "bigot" by some of the lefties who frequent this blog. That's how any dialogue gets shut down if you are not politically correct. And that's why I have a hard time believing we can ever have any meaningful reform in this issue.
Soccermom - Heck, I would even vote *gasp* NDP if they came out with this one! (OK, of course that will never happen!)
Heck, I would even vote Bloc!
Heck, I'd vote Bloc, too! LOL!
Soccermom - Don't worry. The trolls that labelled you a "bigot" are now banned from this blog.
I agree with you though. It's hard to have a discussion on anything when the word bigot is thrown in your face everytime you attempt to exercise your Freedom of Speech.
Let them call you a bigot. The word is used so much anyway, it has become meaningless, just like a four letter word that starts with "f". Just please don't stop expressing your opinion!
Now this should give the trolls lots of fodder for their blogs!
The real issue isn't the natives or the blockade. It's political correctness- an affliction which paralyses politicians and others.
McGuinty isn't afraid of using police or other force. He's afraid of the perception that use of force would give. He would rather allow innocent citizen be brutalized than give the impression he ordered suppression of a minority, especially one which plays victim as well as the natives do.
Soccermom, according to StatsCan, there are 29,639,030 registered under the Indian Act of which 321,855 live on reserves (2001 census) but that number doesn't reflect the non-status natives which are a bit harder to define. The best guess I've heard is around the total population which identifies itself as being native is around 3%.
Mac, you hit the nail on the head there.
OK, Mac, don't quite get your numbers, but the 3% makes sense to me. So billions and billions every year for just 3% of the population? Yikes!
I just say McWimpy on the tube " ... it would be very helpful if they'd take down the blockades ...".
makes you long for Mike Harris' " get them off the f%$&$ land!".
McGuinty is in Neverland.
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