February 28th marks two years of strife in Caledonia and Haldimand County as an illegal native occupation of disputed land by the Six Nations continues with no end in sight.
Taxpayers across Canada - not just Ontario - are on the hook as costs continue to mount. Moreover, Ontarions are left to wonder under what circumstances their rights will be protected and when interests of native law-breakers trump the law at their expense. The current approach hurts everyone, including native bands.
There is a genuine dispute between the Six Nations and Canadian governments over land in the area of the 'Haldimand Tract' which should be resolved through reasonable and lawful bargaining. Unfortunately, this dispute escalated to violence on Feb. 28, 2006 when members of the Six Nations violently and illegally took over and occupied a local development on the disputed site. The developer had sought and received all required legal and regulatory approvals from the various levels of government to build in the area. Yet, he has been deprived of his enterprise and citizens are paying for it with tax dollars and lost rights.
When the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) tried, but failed, to remove the occupiers, the developers sought and won an injunction requiring the OPP to remove them. The OPP Chief refused saying, "it is beyond any scope that I have". The Ontario government has refused to act, the standoff continues, people have been injured and costs continue to mount.
The total cost for the standoff is unclear. The province bought the disputed land from the developer for $12.3 million and and an undisclosed amount to cover lost 'future revenues'. Despite numerous requests through Freedom of Information the government refuses to disclose the full amount. Costs have been shared between the Ontario and federal governments for road and other infrastructrurerepairs, a large and ongoing police presence, lawyers fees, compensation for local residents and businesses, and unusual negotiation fees. One cost we do know from the Public Accounts is for McGuinty appointee, Jane Stewart, who billed taxpayers $171,783 between March 2006 and March 2007 as the Ontario negotiator.
And what a job Stewart did. She made no progress whatsoever before she was moved into another patronage job in July. As things stand, the federal government has made two offers to the Six Nations; one for $126 million for all four land claims, and one for $26 million for just the Welland Canal claim. The Six Nations has yet to respond to these offers.
While the clock ticks past two years, the legal double standard continues and costs mount. The Canadian Taxpayers Federation has issued a petition calling on the government: to enforce the rule of law equally in Ontario; not to undertake negotiations when there are illegal occupations and blockades; to make every effort to recover all unusual costs incurred to date; and, to work diligently to resolve outstanding land claims.
No other group conducting an illegal blockade would be treated with such favour. It is time political correctness be shelved in favour of equal application of the law. It's an approach that would benefit all concerned including natives themselves.
