They get letters

The editorial in today's National Post is a sample of the collective voice of citizens affected by the disruption in Caledonia. On Saturday, the Post invited readers from the Caledonia area to send in their stories and this is the result - Caledonia's pain -- in our readers' words.

Good on the Post for taking up the cause for freedom of speech and the rule of law in a province that turns a blind eye to extortion and lawlessness.

Now how's that for a reality-based editorial, Warren?

Fantino gets smack-down from Record

In the interest of fair play, I should give credit where it is due, and the Record certainly earned kudos for this editorial - Police willingly ignore illicit cigarette sales.

The Record rightly points out the selective law enforcement techniques of the OPP and Julian Fantino in particular:

...Rather than simply dismiss -- or attempt to suppress -- a messenger that he finds objectionable, Fantino should consider the message. And while he's at it, perhaps the commissioner could explain to the people of Ontario why some laws are more worthy of enforcement than others.

Well, it would appear that either Gary McHale's decision to sue the OPP, or all the negative press and video clips that were generated after McHale's beating on the weekend have led to some action. The smoke shop in question is apparently going to be shut down.


No word yet of any charges in Saturday's assault.

Also no word on how Fantino plans to deal with the rest of illegal cigarette sales in Ontario.


More at Halls of Macadamia.

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Thursday Update: Great video from CHCH available here.

Friday Update: Cash offer expected in Caledonia dispute - Record:

Federal negotiator Ron Doering is expected to present a cash offer to settle the 175-year-old Welland Feeder Canal/Dunnville Dam claim Dec. 12. But Mohawk Chief Allen MacNaughton, lead negotiator for Six Nations, said yesterday a resolution to outstanding Six Nations claims "will not be resolved simply by throwing money at Six Nations."

"Neither one is taking into consideration that land was stolen from us and we are looking for fair equitable compensation for the loss of that land," MacNaughton said in a statement. "Promises were broken and the land has to be returned."

But what is Plan B?

Another 'disturbance' in Caledonia yesterday - Activist badly beaten in Caledonia attack (Spectator). More at LFP.

I just can't get over this line from Julian Fantino:

OPP commissioner Julian Fantino said in a release that the force, “will seek every legal remedy possible to end this madness and to bring them (protesters) to justice.”

“These incidents, where interlopers put their personal agendas over those who are striving for a permanent and lasting resolution will not be tolerated,” said Fantino.

At first I thought he was referring to the native protesters.

Silly me.


Meanwhile, the feds will offer another cash settlement, since the $125 million offered last May wasn't good enough - Ottawa plans new cash offer to Six Nations.

If that fails, then Plan B goes into action.

Trouble is, nobody seems to know what that might be.

Time for McGuinty (and therefore us) to pay the piper

Well, the unions were solidly behind McGuinty during the election, and now begins payback time.

The labour movement is demanding that the province take a more aggressive stance in safeguarding union jobs. That usually means more money for them and more taxes for us.

Funny thing is that usually the lefties scorn corporate tax incentives, but they still want their high-paying, union jobs protected.

Anyway, at the end of this Star article (Unions turn screws on Liberals) there is an interesting bit of information about the infamous 'Working Families Coalition':

Representatives of the building trades, teachers and firefighters were all at the convention. But their unions all worked along with the CAW to help elect Liberals in last month's provincial election, either directly or indirectly through the "working families" coalition. They are unlikely to join any concerted anti-government protests.

It will be interesting to see how this all works out.



Meanwhile back in Caledonia, resident Ken Hewitt made it clear in an open letter to Michael Bryant that he expects much more involvement from the Minister than a quick photo-op:

In any event my concern lies with the comment you made regarding the HDI; a group that has no legitimacy, nor do they have lawful jurisdiction over land that has yet to be settled in any formal claims negotiations. I fully support and agree with your comment that no builder or developer should consult with such group, and that fees were not expected to be paid to any group; that they should trust the legal titles and registration process prescribed by the province. My question is why then does the provincial government not stand behind those statements. Furthermore your statement that,” natives will not be forcibly removed from any site” only serves to guarantee more protests like Caledonia’s. Most of us live our lives with an understanding that with behaviour come consequences. You have taken the consequences out of the equation and have given them a false of sense of power that will bring harm on them as well those they affect.

Today, as a result of your statements, the HDI has decided to test them by stopping a builder in Brantford indefinitely. The terms are to consult and to pay fees that you said he would not have to. I am afraid that he will be faced with little choice as your (our) government abandons him and leaves him on his own. You should know that just recently the HDI was involved in stopping a dump that was given the provincial go ahead to move forward. While that is a win for the environment, the fact that they are no longer there would suggest that the environment was not their agenda and that they have been or will be paid fees as well.

So the McGuinty government is going to have a few challenges in the next little while. I wonder how much more of our money they will spend to try and make it all go away?

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Thursday Update: Board meeting erupts over black school plan - Star.

The Post has an article this morning about the meeting as well, but I can't find the link (I hate their new on-line format) - Africentric school issue brings TDSB meeting to halt:

"We're not divided tonight", said Ms. Wilson, a parent, directing herself at members of the executive committee who remained in the room. She pointed to other alternative schools, like one for gay, lesbian and transgendered youth, which flourish in the public system. "Why can't our children have that?" she yelled, before collapsing in tears into the arms of a man.

Expositor - Builder fails to get native OK to resume his project.

Where is Michael Bryant now?

Caledonia resident - "It sucks"

So Michael Bryant arrived in Caledonia today. As the Globe reports he met with "local politicians, business and spiritual leaders during his much-publicized trip, but did not meet with any of the Six Nations protesters or their representatives."

Frustrated residents were not able to talk to the Minister, but seemed only too happy to vent to reporters:

Misti Bottenfield, who lives near the former housing development site that has been occupied for almost two years, said it's time Mr. Bryant gave protesters an ultimatum.

“It should be — get off the land or no talks,” said the 26-year-old, adding she has been repeatedly intimidated by the protesters. “Get off the land and out of the houses. Even though the barricades are down and the roads are open, it's still not much better. It sucks.”

Pat Woolley, another Caledonia resident complained:

“This thing is getting worse, not better,” said Woolley, adding the province should put an end to the occupation now while it continues negotiating the land claim.

“Businesses continue to suffer ... You can't allow this thing to go on. I've always brought my children up to believe we are all equal under the law. My frustration with this Liberal government is that we're not seeing this transpire in this community.”

Bryant's main response to the occupation was that "whether the provincially owned land is cleared of protesters is a matter for the provincial police, not the governing Liberals to decide".


So, what's the hold-up, Julian Fantino? Why not clear the land? Are we not all equal under the law?

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Tuesday Update: Why am I not surprised? - Bryant rules out force in Caledonia.

Same old, same old.

Many residents have long insisted the occupation is a flashpoint for conflict, and many say they feel intimidated by the protesters. Bryant, however, said the occupation is now largely a symbolic one.

It sure is 'symbolic' - of two-tier justice, appeasement, and a police system that has a racial bias when it comes to enforcing the law.

It's going to be a long wait until the 2011 election for those Caledonia folks. Let's hope we'll have strong opposition leadership by then.


Spectator - Bryant to Caledonia: No forced removals. That's right, Michael. Just throw more of our money at it.

Expositor - Native Protesters again shut down Mike Q's project.

Cultural disparity and the rule of law

The first thing Michael Bryant should do as Minister of Aboriginal Affairs is to establish which rule of law applies the native population in Ontario.

According to some native activists, the Canadian government has no jurisdiction over their people. Therefore any action by non-native legal systems is viewed as 'high treason'.

This isn't the first time this argument has been advanced. Many Canadian taxpayers are left wondering why they are still having to support reservations, etc.

In fact, Jonathan Kay mentioned this little item in a recent editorial:

Each year the federal government spends over $8-billion on reserve-resident natives, or $80,000 per reserve-resident household (a statistic I never get tired of quoting, because it puts to rest the idea that natives are somehow being nickel-and-dimed under the current system).

Yet, many natives still feel that they should only be accountable to themselves. It would appear that sometimes our courts condone this view, as in the release of Byron Powless on $5000 bail. (You remember the Sam Gualtieri story, right?):

As part of the bail conditions, Powless must live on the Six Nations reserve with his parents, have no contact with the alleged victims and not possess any firearms, explosives or ammunition. Styres said he agreed to be Powless's surety because he believes it's an important time in Canadian history as the Six Nations Haudenosaunee try to assert their land rights. "He was defending the right of the Haudenosaunee people (to their land) as he understands it," he said.

This idea of 'we can take care of our own' appears to be in direct conflict with the rights of non-natives.

Michael Bryant will need to bridge this chasm of understanding.

Julian Fantino seems to be blaming the non-natives for stirring the pot, but blame is not getting us anywhere. Neither is passing the buck to the feds for policing issues.

Oh, and by the way, here is a slightly more accurate figure on the Caledonia price tag.

Michael Bryant, you have a job to do. Let's see some action.

Now.