Thursday, January 31, 2008

How Ipperwash emasculated Ontario

Yesterday's National Post contained an illuminating article by lawyer John Findlay ('Sacrificial lambs at the altar of Ipperwash'), regarding a class action suit he is bringing against 'former OPP Comissioner Gwen Boniface, the former Haldimand provincial police detachment commander and the Ontario Government, on behalf of several businesses and property owners in Caledonia'. (Thanks to Just Right or I might have missed it.)

Anyway, it is a comprehensive account of the whole Caledonia story, as well as being a real eye-opener concerning the lame attitudes of government and police as they cower in fear over the ramifications of the Ipperwash inquiry and strip non-natives of money and rights in the process.

But holding Ipperwash up as the Holy Grail on which to base all future native policy is not only disingenuous, it is also unworkable.

- Disengenuous, because as John Findlay pointed out, "The Ipperwash situation was unique. The disputed land at Ipperwash was located on rural land that had been used by the government. At Caledonia, by contrast, the occupation has taken place in a heavily populated area on land that has been in private hands for over 150 years."

- Unworkable because this spineless attitude of backing off no matter what, means that nothing can be built along the Grand River without fear of the project being taken over a dissenting native group, and everyone is well aware there will be no consequences for any law-breakers. This cannot continue in a democracy.

Finally, Mr. Findlay suggests that the real culprits here are the bureaucrats, politicians and police who are unable to "distinguish between the criminals and the responsible members of the native community."

By doing so they have not only disrespected the rights of all Ontario citizens, but have also played a role in promoting racism and stereotyping.

It is unacceptable.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great title Joanne!!
In other words Dalton does have the gonads to tackle this situation!!

Joanne (True Blue) said...

in other words Dalton does have the gonads to tackle this situation!!

You probably meant to say, "In other words does McLimpy have the ...?"

Anonymous said...

Ha ...In my haste I left out a very important word!
"In other words Dalton does NOT have the gonads to tackle the situation."
Your interpretation works too.
Reminder to self...proofread!

OMMAG said...

Well it's a catchy headline but I'm pretty sure that the likes of McGuinty and the bleeding hearts and others who think everything is just fine never had the nads or the desire to mand up to responsiblity in the first place. Ipperwash or not.

It's the typical leftoid scenario of looking for excuses instead of doing what needs to be done.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Well it's a catchy headline

Thanks. ;)

but I'm pretty sure that the likes of McGuinty and the bleeding hearts and others who think everything is just fine never had the nads or the desire to mand up to responsiblity in the first place. Ipperwash or not.

Especially not with a majority. He can just sit back and look concerned for four years.