Mainstream Media November 2006

November, 2006

Wednesday, November 1^st: Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice reportedly refused to meet with David Ramsay, Ontario’s minister in charge of Aboriginal affairs, on Tuesday night when he arrived in Ottawa do discuss federal compensation for the ongoing costs of the Six Nations occupation in Caledonia. The Ontario government is seeking $39.3-million, which includes $15 million to date for policing of the dispute, $15.8 million for the purchase of the disputed land, and various amounts in compensation to area builders and businesses hurt by the eight-month-old standoff. Earlier on Tuesday, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty told reporters that, “The only people who are in a position to wrap up this negotiation are the federal government, and to a very large extent they have been missing in action... We would welcome them coming to the table with concrete proposals and any kind of effort that would accelerate these negotiations” (April Lindgren: Ctz A7, WStar C1; Karen Howlett: G&M A17; Marissa Nelson & Daniel Nolan: HS A1; Keith Leslie: KWS 13; Rob Ferguson: TStar A7; CP: CSun 25, TSun 4, KWR A3, HCH A6, Gaz A12, EJ A6, LH A2).

On Tuesday, Ontario opposition leader John Tory took issue with the Ontario government trying to charge the Hamilton Spectator $5,500 to find out how much OPP policing in Caledonia is costing taxpayers. Mr. Tory accused the Ontario government of subverting changes to laws governing Freedom of Information to prevent the public from getting information (Marissa Nelson: HS A11).

Columnist Christina Blizzard: The province of Ontario appears to be bashing its way out of Caledonia using the federal government as the battering ram. And, fair enough, the Harper government has been conspicuous by its absence in Caledonia, where Ontario Premier McGuinty estimates policing has cost the OPP around $25 million, even though Aboriginal affairs are essentially a federal matter. All the same, the province has invited trouble by buying the disputed land - at an estimated $20 million. Perhaps Premier McGuinty could set the ball rolling by asking the PM to take control - by sending in the army. It is one way to get the province off the hook for policing costs (TSun 20).

Thursday, November 2^nd: Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice suggested Wednesday that the federal and Ontario governments share responsibility for resolving the Six Nations land claim dispute, because the initial land claim predates Confederation. Mr. Prentice, in an interview, drew a distinction between Aboriginal land claims that arose before the British North America Act came into existence in 1867, and those that followed. David Ramsay, the Ontario minister responsible for Aboriginal affairs, accused Mr. Prentice of casting aside more than 100 years of tradition entrenched in Canada's Constitution (Karen Howlett & Bill Curry: G&M A1).

Minister Prentice defended his decision to cancel a Tuesday meeting with his provincial counterpart David Ramsay, stating: “I am prepared to sit down in a serious way and talk about these issues, but I do not compare them to a hockey game and I do not appreciate the sort of political grandstanding that has been going on, and frankly I am not going to put up with it.” Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty said Wednesday that the federal government should set aside its “sensitivities” and get serious about settling the eight-month-old dispute (April Lindgren: Ctz A8; Rob Ferguson: TStar A19).

Haldimand County Mayor Marie Trainer called on federal and provincial politicians Wednesday to “stop acting like children,” and focus on ending the Six Nations occupation in Caledonia. Six Nations Chief Allen MacNaughton urged Mr. Prentice to become directly involved in talks with Six Nations Confederacy chiefs to reach a settlement in the land dispute (Chinta Puxley & Jennifer Ditchburn: LFP A9, HCH A8).

The Hamilton Spectator published a Question and Answer interview between Mr. Prentice and one of its editorial board staff in which Mr. Prentice stated, “At the heart of this there is concern about land claims ... There is federal jurisdiction there, not exclusive jurisdiction and I understand that and we are working on that. The claim itself predates Confederation - it is a claim Ontario brought into Confederation with it, so to suggest it is exclusive federal jurisdiction is not the case (HS A13).

The Hamilton Spectator published a Question and Answer interview between Mr. Ramsay and one of its editorial board staff in which Mr. Ramsay stated, “We are all big boys and girls in this game and it is a full-contact sport ... Jim Prentice knows that, too. There is no room to be overly sensitive” (HS A13).

Columnist Murray Campbell: Minister Prentice may argue that he is not responsible for land claims by the Six Nations because its 1784 treaty predated Confederation. That is hogwash. Treaties are made with the Crown and the federal government is Her Majesty's senior government. Ontario is stuck because it has discovered it can not afford the cost of keeping the peace. The two sides have no choice but to keep talking (G&M A7).

Columnist Lee Prosaka: Minister Prentice needs to learn some manners after he cancelled a meeting with his Ontario counterpart this week with virtually no notice. Regardless of so-called grandstanding by the Ontario government, Mr. Prentice's last-minute cancellation was rude and insulting. It was also irresponsible and simply unacceptable (HS A16).

Friday, November 3^rd: Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty suggested Thursday that claims by INAC Minister Jim Prentice that pre-Confederation land claim disputes, including the long-running Aboriginal occupation in Caledonia, are a provincial responsibility is simply posturing by the federal Conservatives. Mr. McGuinty called Mr. Prentice's new approach "novel," and said he had not heard the federal government ever suggest to any other province or territory that Aboriginal land claims were anything but a federal responsibility, and insisted Ottawa must take a lead role to end the eight-month Caledonia occupation (CP: WStar D8).

Columnist Christina Blizzard: Both levels of government need to work together to resolve the Caledonia occupation. Perhaps Premier McGuinty could set the ball rolling by asking Prime Minister Harper to take control - by sending in the military. That would be one way to get the province off the hook for policing costs (LFP A10).

Saturday, November 4^th: Phil Monture, an advisor to the Six Nations Confederacy, questioned the accuracy of an 1844 federal document which indicates the band surrendered and sold the land currently occupied by Six Nations members in Caledonia. According to Mr. Monture, the document was prepared by a discredited Aboriginal agent and was illegal because it did not contain a survey plan (Daniel Nolan: HS A14).

Sunday, November 5^th: Columnist Lorrie Goldstein: Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice should start taking his job seriously and finally address the long lasting dispute over land in Caledonia (TSun C3).

Monday, November 6^th: Prime Minister Harper and Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty held a private meeting in Ottawa on Saturday. No details were available, but it is expected federal transfer payments and the Caledonia land dispute were discussed (CP: TStar A9).

Wednesday, November 8^th: According to provincial sources, the situation in Caledonia was discussed during a secretive meeting between Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and Prime Minister Harper last Saturday. The PM reportedly undertook to consider sharing the escalating cost of policing the volatile situation in Caledonia (Ian Urquhart: TStar A25).

Sunday, November 12^th: A Toronto Star editorial asserted that the signs that the federal government wants little to do with the Caledonia dispute are clear. First, federal Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice rudely stood up his Ontario counterpart David Ramsay on Halloween when Mr. Ramsay arrived at Mr. Prentice’s Ottawa office for a scheduled meeting on the issue. Then, Mr. Prentice suggested the occupation by Six Nations protestors of a housing development south of Hamilton might not be exclusively a federal matter, because their claim to the land predates 1867, when Canada came into being. Such pettiness shows the lengths to which the Conservative government will go to pass the buck on this politically sensitive issue. Rather than try to deny its legal duties, Ottawa should work with Aboriginal leaders and Ontario to settle this dispute once and for all (TStar A16).

Monday, November 13^th: Newly appointed OPP commissioner Julian Fantino said the “sooner the better” it will be once the Ontario and federal governments sort out the land claim situation in Caledonia. Mr. Fantino stated, “I think the OPP has taken a bad rap ... because I think what was perceived is the OPP was there to solve this (land claim) problem. The resolution of this is not a police problem” (Richard Brennan: TStar A08).

Tuesday, November 14^th: Haldimand County Mayor Marie Trainer was reelected despite fears that the ongoing Six Nations occupation in Caledonia would hurt her at the polls (Timothy Appleby: G&M A18; Mike Oliveira: TSun 4; CP: OSun 12, KWR A3, HS A11).

Wednesday, November 15^th: According to David Ramsay, Ontario’s minister responsible for Aboriginal affairs, the federal government is prepared to take a new leadership role in settling the Six Nations land claims dispute in Caledonia. Mr. Ramsay said that he and Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice have agreed to set aside their differences on the issue. Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty also indicated that the federal government had agreed to step up its role in the dispute, stating: “We are caught up in a police action here which apparently we are going to have to maintain indefinitely. Fundamentally, this is a dispute between the Six Nations community and the federal government ... My sense is the federal government is more impressed with the urgency of the situation” (Karen Howlett: G&M A7; Rob Ferguson: TStar A4; CP: WStar B4, HS A8, LFP B12, KWS 11).

A spokesperson for Minister Prentice told reporters that the federal government’s role in the Six Nations land claims dispute has not changed (CP: TSun 46).

Columnist Christina Blizzard: Premier McGuinty noted that the federal government is “more impressed with the urgency of the situation” in Caledonia, following a meeting between Minister Prentice and his Ontario counterpart. Perhaps the feds will just “resolve the situation,” by sending cash on a daily basis to pay for the cops. But I do not think so. Ontario Progressive Conservative leader John Tory said he has pleaded with Mr. McGuinty to sit down with community leaders in Caledonia to negotiate an end to the occupation. That has not happened. It will not happen (TSun 20, OSun 15).

Thursday, November 16^th: Columnist Lee Prokaska: Marie Trainer's re-election as Haldimand County mayor comes at a time of some new impetus and renewed hope for resolution in Caledonia. After meeting with Prime Minister Harper and Minister Prentice earlier this month, Premier Dalton McGuinty believes Ottawa understands the urgency of ending the occupation. The federal government seems willing to at least consider helping with the costs. More importantly, there seems a willingness for a stronger federal leadership role at the negotiating table. That is good news for Caledonia and for Ms. Trainer as she starts her second term as county mayor (HS A16).

Christina Blizzard’s column was repeated from Wednesday (LFP A13).

Friday, November 17^th: OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino said continuing friction between Six Nations, residents and police at Caledonia will not be solved by the OPP’s presence at the site (Ian Robertson: TSun 16).

Monday, November 20^th: Toronto Sun: There is one group of people hurt by the Six Nations occupation in Caledonia which has been largely ignored up to now: The OPP. There have been allegations during this standoff that the OPP stood idly by and allowed law-breaking to occur while doing nothing. Newly-appointed OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino has rightly noted that politicians have to resolve this standoff, because that is not the job of the OPP. Are Premier McGuinty and PM Harper even listening as they pass the buck between them? (TSun 20).

Wednesday, November 22^nd: Letter writer Aaron Williams: The problems in Caledonia highlight the lack of recognition of the Aboriginal voice in Canada. The scandal in Kashechewan has demonstrated that the level of services in our reserves is disgraceful, compared to those in our other communities. Aboriginal women continue to be abused at a level that is completely unacceptable and the substance abuse problem is out of control. How is it that with all these problems our PM feels righteous enough to talk about the abuse of human rights in China? (TStar A27).

Monday, November 27^th: The Grand River Conservation Authority has reversed a previous committee decision and agreed to consult with the Six Nations Confederacy before embarking on a number of projects. Confederacy spokesperson Wes Elliott said it has no intention of causing long delays for authority projects. However, Mr. Elliott pointed out that the Confederacy does want to be consulted on issues that could affect the Grand River or land subject to First Nations land claims (Bob Burtt: KWR B1).

Thursday, November 30^th: Documents obtained by the Hamilton Spectator through access to information laws found the federal government is paying Barbara McDougall $1,600 a day to be Ottawa's representative in the Caledonia negotiations. Between May and the end of August, Ms. McDougall billed Ottawa for 185 hours or about a day and a half a week. Her tab for those hours was $39,000, including GST. Ian Sadinsky, who returned calls for Ms. McDougall, said the pace of work has picked up significantly in the last six weeks to more than two days a week. Ms. McDougall's bill does not include expenses, which during the first five months were $5,740. Mr. Sadinsky said most of that cost was for a limousine she uses to get to and from Caledonia. Mr. Sadinsky's bill for communications work he has done for Ms. McDougall was not included in the amount. Six Nations spokesperson Janie Jamieson said that from her experience, Ms. McDougall is much less involved than her provincial counterpart Jane Stewart. Ms. Jamieson suggested taxpayers are not getting their money's worth (Marissa Nelson: HS A11).

Mainstream Media October 2006

October, 2006

Tuesday, October 3^rd: Gary and Christine McHale of Richmond Hill, co-organizers of the controversial “March for Freedom,” scheduled for Oct. 15, announced Monday that the rally will be held at the Caledonia fairgrounds instead of being directed toward the occupied Douglas Creek Estates. Six Nations spokesperson Janie Jamieson called Mr. and Mrs. McHale instigators rather than people looking for an amicable resolution to the current dispute (Marissa Nelson: HS A7; CP: LFP B3).

Letter writer Damien Ciotti, Hamilton: It is unfair to expect Caledonia citizens to put up with intimidation and fear while Aboriginal protesters continue to flout the law in front of police. The government has bought the land from the developers to compensate them for their millions in losses, but what about those who were not involved but were affected? For their losses, the government should help the town and people of Caledonia (HS A14).

Saturday, October 7^th: A number of non-Aboriginal citizens living near the site of the Six Nations occupation in Caledonia have erected U.S. flags in protest of the ongoing dispute. According to Ken Hewitt, a member of the Caledonia Citizens Alliance, people are fed up because their federal government has not supported them (Marissa Nelson: HS A14, KWR A3).

Wednesday, October 11^th: Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty has condemned a rally, dubbed the “March for Freedom,” scheduled for this weekend in Caledonia. However, Ontario Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Ramsay, despite sharing Mr. McGuinty’s opinion that the rally is a bad idea, has said he will not seek an injunction to halt the rally. Rally organizer Gary McHale said he is expecting 20,000 Ontarians to take part in the Sunday rally (Antonella Artuso: TSun 25, OSun 12; Chinta Puxley: HS A11, LFP B4; WStar B1; April Lindgren: VProv A16, Ctz A4, NP A9; CP: KWR A3).

Thursday, October 12^th: Haldimand County Mayor Marie Trainer said she is prepared to declare a state of emergency in Caledonia this weekend after the Ontario government said it will not stop a potentially dangerous rally and is counting on police to prevent bloodshed. Mayor Trainer said she will be on standby and hopes rain might deter people from participating in the rally. The rally has been organized to protest the ongoing Aboriginal occupation and is to include a march on the disputed land. The Six Nations occupiers have asked supporters to pressure the government to block the rally for fear it could spark more violent clashes, but Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Ramsay said the government has done everything it can. He said the province has asked rally organizers to stay away from the site (Marissa Nelson: HS A11; CP: WFP A8, WSun 20, HDN 9, Gaz A12, HCH A11, KWR A3).

Premier Dalton McGuinty encouraged organizers of the Caledonia rally to protest on the front lawn of Queen’s Park rather than at the site. Rally organizer Gary McHale turned down the invitation, saying “Politicians won’t pay attention unless we go to Caledonia. That’s the only reason they’re talking about it.” Meanwhile, Minister Ramsay said few people will want to attend an event where there is such potential for violence (Antonella Artuso: TSun 10, LFP A10).

Kingston Whig-Standard editorial: Holding a rally against the occupation makes about as much sense as flicking a lit cigarette into a bone-dry forest during the heat of summer. There has been a peaceful lull recently on and around the disputed land, as negotiations continue. To bring in a protest, organized by people outside the community, would only serve to rekindle hostilities (KWS 4).

Friday, October 13^th: New OPP commissioner Julian Fantino said Thursday he needs time to educate himself on the issues surrounding the Caledonia occupation. He accepted that officers’ morale has declined because of the dispute. OPPA president Karl Walsh said morale has declined because officers feel they are not being allowed to enforce the law because of fears the protest might turn violent (Antonella Artuso: TSun 4; Murray Campbell: G&M A10; April Lindgren: NP A11 and WStar C1; Betsy Powell: TStar A4; CP: HS A3).

Ontario Minister of Aboriginal Affairs David Ramsay said people who participate in the rally in Caledonia Sunday are “putting their lives at risk.” Mr. Ramsay called march organizer Gary McHale and offered the grounds of Queen’s Park as a venue for the protest. Mr. McHale declined the offer, saying it would be useless to march there. Mr. McHale also met with the OPP Thursday to discuss different options. Mr. Ramsay stressed that the people on the land have a sincere belief that the land is theirs as part of the unresolved Plank Road land claim. Six Nations spokeswoman Janie Jamieson said they expect their own supporters to be at the site on Sunday. Haldimand Mayor Marie Trainer expressed her concern that marching to the former Douglas Creek Estates would be “asking for a fight.” Mayor Trainer said she agrees with Mr. McHale’s stance that there's a “two-tier” justice system but still does not want him going near the site (Marissa Nelson: HS A12).

Rally organizer Gary McHale said he hopes to draw further attention to the Caledonia issue by leading 20,000 people onto the site, a move he expects the OPP to attempt to repel. That, he said, will prove Aboriginals are permitted to gather on the disputed land, while non-Aboriginals are not (Kelly Patrick: NP A6).

A Hamilton Spectator poll asked: Should protest rallies be allowed to take place on or near the occupied Douglas Creek Estates property in Caledonia? Sixty-nine percent voted yes, 31 percent voted no (HS A15).

Toronto Star editorial: Effective, progressive OPP leadership is vital, especially now. The OPP patrols vast areas of this province, including districts where the population is largely poor and Aboriginal. That is a huge challenge. The force is under much pressure over its handling of the ongoing standoff in Caledonia. The choice of Julian Fantino is a troubling one. Premier McGuinty must do better in explaining why the person he approved to take command of the OPP is the same man who was no longer deemed the best choice for Toronto (TStar A22).

Columnist Lorne Gunter: As has been the case with so much else in the Caledonia dispute, the government of Premier Dalton McGuinty does not have the backbone to seek an injunction against this weekend’s rally, even though they believe it will almost certainly lead to bodily injury and property damage. For months now, the Ontario government has done everything it can to ignore court orders calling for the occupiers to leave the site, so it cannot very well now ask for a court order to keep non-Aboriginals away, even if it is certain their presence will provoke violence. All along, this dispute has been about the rule of law. By not defending that rule when it had the chance, the Ontario government is left to hope this weekend that Caledonia will not descend into mob rule (NP A16).

Columnist Lee Prokaska: Purposely creating a situation with such potential to degenerate into violence is simply irresponsible. Tension is already thick in Caledonia. Exacerbating that tension is ill-conceived and counter-productive. It is all too easy to poke with a sharp stick if Caledonia is not your home, if you do not have to live with the outcomes on an ongoing basis, if you can drive away to a peaceful town after setting off the fireworks. Local people must live with the aftermath, and local people have a choice. Getting involved in such a patently provocative plan makes no sense at all. Boycotting this event, refusing to legitimize it by participating - that is the wise way to go (HS A14).

Columnist Gerald Owen warned that diversity can be divisive, citing the situation in Caledonia as an example (NP A19).

Letters to the editor concerning this weekend’s rally: (HS A14).

Saturday, October 14^th: Residents of Caledonia were getting ready for a potentially violent showdown Sunday amid plans for a march on the Six Nations occupation site by a group of non-Aboriginal people. The proposed rally, organized for this weekend by Richmond Hill residents Gary and Christine McHale, has resulted in the cancellation of sporting events, the closure of the town’s arena, and has left many business owners contemplating closing their doors on Sunday. Six Nations occupiers have indicated that they will host a “potluck for peace” at the occupation site at the same time as the rally. Occupiers have also indicated their intention to “secure” their site boundaries (Chinta Puxley: CH A15).

A spokesperson for the OPP said Friday that the police force will act to prevent those taking part in the proposed rally from entering the Six Nations occupied site (John Miner: LFP A1).

Even local organizations opposed to the Six Nations occupation in Caledonia have voiced their opposition to the proposed rally. Ken Hewitt, the representative of a local citizens group, criticized the organizers of the event, stating that the execution of it will be “questionable at best” (Marissa Nelson: HS A9).

Phil Fontaine, AFN National Chief: The Assembly of First Nations has great confidence in the ongoing negotiations between Six Nations and representatives of the federal and provincial governments in regards to disputed land at Caledonia, Ont. As for the protest march planned for Sunday, we hope the media, the public and the government pay as little attention as possible. Instead, we commend the people of Six Nations for organizing a Potluck for Peace Picnic on the same day (NP A17).

Letter writer Lisa W. Parent stated Premier Dalton McGuinty should be ashamed for subjecting Caledonia to the OPP who clearly put the Aboriginal occupiers ahead of the taxpaying citizens of the town. She added: “I guess we are not important to him in his re-election” (HS A20).

Letter writer Denise Dicy: In the name of peace, community and humanity, instead of stirring the pot this weekend, support the Six Nations Confederacy’s call to the Canadian government to provide responsible and accountable governance (HS A20).

Sunday, October 15^th: Despite opposition from the OPP and the government of Ontario, rally organizer Gary McHale has remained adamant that the rally will proceed as planned (Natalie Pona: TSun 16).

Monday, October 16^th: Police arrested three men involved in the rally held Sunday in Caledonia, and managed to prevent anyone taking part in the rally from crossing onto the Six Nations occupied site. Approximately 500 people were reported to have taken part in the rally, which was organized in protest of what organizers called a “two-tier” justice system currently being employed in the Caledonia dispute (John Miner: LFP A1, TSun 3; Gregory Bonnell: G&M A8; Kelly Patrick: NP A4, WStar B1, CH A6; Rob Faulkner: HS A1; Sharon Boase & Rob Faulkner: HS A9; CP: Gaz A13, ESun 7, OSun 12, VTC A8, HDN 9, CSun 17).

The Hamilton Spectator published an account of various happenings around Caledonia in relation to the Sunday rally (HS A9).

Tuesday, October 17^th: Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty praised the work of OPP officers who stood guard on Sunday at the disputed land site in Caledonia while opponents of the Six Nations occupation held a rally. Mr. McGuinty said that, while he understands the frustration of Caledonian residents, the Six Nations land claim has been 150 years in the making and will not be resolved in a matter of months. Ontario PC leader John Tory was critical of the Premier for failing to impose reasonable conditions on the Six Nations occupiers (Antonella Artuso: TSun 9).

National Post editorial: The rally in Caledonia this weekend highlighted the iniquitous way in which the law is being applied in this standoff. While police were keeping non-Aboriginal marchers away from the housing development site, Aboriginal squatters and their supporters held a potluck picnic there, despite three judicial injunctions ordering them off. As has been the case since this dispute turned violent last April, the OPP have been called on to make sure non-Aboriginal People obey the law, while simultaneously being politically hamstrung from ensuring Aboriginal People do the same (NP A14).

Ottawa Sun editorial: We worry that all hell will break loose before the dispute in Caledonia is resolved. And when it does, we wonder how Ontario Premier McGuinty and his buddies at Queen's Park will be able to look in the mirror. The simple fact that we are now eight months into the standoff tells us all we need to know about the leadership abilities of the current provincial government. Instead of insisting that the law be applied equally and evenly to all Ontario residents last February, when Aboriginal People illegally occupied the housing development site, the government stood meekly aside (OSun 14).

Columnist Lee Prosaka: Most Caledonia residents showed good sense in ignoring Sunday's rally in Caledonia. There is no doubt Caledonia residents are upset about the continued occupation of the disputed land. Caledonia residents need to feel someone in authority cares about what is happening to them (HS A14).

Wednesday, October 18^th: Premier Dalton McGuinty turned down an offer to stay in a Caledonia home to experience the Six Nations occupation first hand, telling reporters Tuesday, “I have not chosen to go to Caledonia to this point in time because I do not think it would be of any value when it comes to accelerating the resolution of this in a peaceful manner.” On the weekend, Caledonia resident AnneMarie VanSickle, whose home backs on to the protest site, invited Mr. McGuinty to spend the night in her home. Ontario PC leader John Tory, who has visited Caledonia half a dozen times, said it is high time Mr. McGuinty went there (Kerry Gillespie: TStar A20).

Health Canada launched an investigation into cigarette billboards advertising Six Nations tobacco products and stores along Highway 6 near Caledonia. However, the investigation has provoked response from Six Nations spokespersons, who have accused the federal government of engaging in ploy tactics to divert attention from land claims in the region (Marissa Nelson: HS A13; CP: HCH A5, LH A9).

Friday, October 20^th: The OPP Association warned the prolonged dispute in Caledonia is forcing many OPP officers to work "excessive" overtime and threatening the level of policing elsewhere in Ontario. The Association will release a poll today that suggests most Ontarians want to see the RCMP brought in to help keep the situation under control (Alan Cairns: TSun 7; Anthony Reinhart: G&M A14; Tom Blackwell: NP A6; Sun Media: OSun 14; CW: WFP A19, WStar C1).

Haldimand Mayor Marie Trainer says she is pleased controversial tobacco signs along Highway 6 have been taken away, though she was not sure who took them down. Six Nations spokeswoman Janie Jamieson said she was also not sure who had taken the sign (Marissa Nelson: HS A13).

Saturday, October 21^st: The federal government told Six Nations it does not have legal title to the Caledonia. A federal negotiator told a town meeting last night Ottawa could be wrong and wants to negotiate a way out of the occupation. Six Nations officials are to return to a Nov. 3 meeting with evidence to prove the Argyle Street South site was not surrendered in the 1840s. Ron Doering, a lawyer hired by the Conservative government to help deal with the land claim, said the federal government has documents from 1844 indicating the Douglas Creek Estates land was surrendered and sold (Daniel Nolan: HS A15).

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty told reporters in Niagara Falls that the federal government should pick up the tab for the Caledonia land-claims dispute because Aboriginal affairs are a federal responsibility. Mr. McGuinty’s remarks coincided with the release of an opinion poll commissioned by the Ontario Provincial Police Association suggesting 80% of Ontario residents think the federal government should take charge in the Caledonia standoff (Timothy Appleby: G&M A14).

A fed-up Premier Dalton McGuinty accused the federal government of dragging its feet on Caledonia and will be sending the federal government a bill for the millions of dollars the Aboriginal standoff has cost Ontario taxpayers. The comments marked an abrupt shift in the way Mr. McGuinty typically talks of working with the federal government to patiently and peacefully resolve the increasingly controversial occupation that began last February (Rob Ferguson: TStar A21).

The Ontario government does not know how much the Caledonia land dispute has cost its taxpayers, even as they press Ottawa to pick up part of the bill. For taxpayers to find out the total will be costly. The Hamilton Spectator has asked for detailed records of the Caledonia costs through various information laws. Bureaucrats have said it will take hundreds of hours and cost thousands of dollars to find, prepare and copy the records (HS A15).

Sunday, October 22^nd: Columnist Christina Blizzard stated that she had some sympathy for Premier Dalton McGuinty on Friday when he said he wants compensation from the federal government for the costs associated with the standoff with Aboriginal protesters at Caledonia. Finance Minister Greg Sorbara made it clear he thinks the feds are missing in action on a number of issues, not just the land claim issues and smoking ads. Mr. Sorbara said “We would like the federal government to show up one of these days” (TSun C7).

Monday, October 23^rd: Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty called on the federal government to provide funding to settle the Six Nations land claim in Caledonia. Mr. McGuinty was quoted as stating, “We intend to claim for compensation from the federal government and we would encourage the federal government to fully assume its proper responsibility and begin to bring some real vigour to the negotiations and to bring them to some conclusion.” Bill Rodgers, spokesperson for Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice, said the premier’s request came as a surprise to Minister Prentice, who was travelling and could not respond immediately (Chinta Puxley: LFP C5).

Columnist Christina Blizzard: Much as the province of Ontario has been active at Caledonia - buying out the developers of the disputed Douglas Creek Estates, for example - Aboriginal issues are essentially a federal issue. Yet Prime Minister Harper has been the Teflon man on this one, while Mr. McGuinty and his minister responsible for Aboriginal affairs, David Ramsay, have taken some big hits (LFP A6).

Maurice Switzer, Director of Communications, Union of Ontario Indians: The National Post’s April 22 editorial, “Hardly a ‘nation’” advised Six Nations’ citizens reclaiming their land at Caledonia to “give up the fantasy” that they are a sovereign nation. Presumably the Post’s writers do not accept any interpretation of the Royal Proclamation of 1763, by which Britain recognized the sovereignty of Indian nations, and decreed that they should “not be molested in their lands” (NP A12).

Tuesday, October 24^th: Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty said Tuesday that the federal government needs to provide at least $25 million in funding to cover the costs of the ongoing Six Nations occupation in Caledonia. Mr. McGuinty said that David Ramsay, the provincial minister responsible for Aboriginal affairs, was to meet this week with his federal counterpart to discuss compensation. However, according to a spokesperson for Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice, no meeting has been scheduled, and Mr. Prentice will not respond to the Ontario government until he gets a formal request for funding (Chinta Puxley: LFP A11, KWS 14, RLP D6, LH A12, KWR A4; Daniel Nolan: HS A9; KWS 13).

Columnist Ian Urquhart: Prime Minister Harper is getting off scot-free on Caledonia issue, even though Indian land claims are constitutionally a federal responsibility. David Ramsay, the Ontario minister responsible for Aboriginal affairs, contacted Indian Affairs Minister Prentice last Sunday, pressing for a face-to-face meeting this week. However, Minister Prentice, apparently not sharing his sense of urgency, put him off until next week. Media inquiries to Minister Prentice’s office have also been brushed off. Ontario and Caledonia are apparently not on federal opposition parties’ radar screens. No wonder Mr. Harper was smiling during his visit to Niagara Falls last week (KWR A18).

Thursday, October 26^th: A confidential provincial report says land offered to Six Nations to help resolve the Caledonia standoff contains an unregistered landfill, asbestos and may also have burial grounds. Provincial staff also expect the decommissioning of the mothballed Burtch Correctional Centre will cost at least $1 million. A briefing report prepared by the Ontario Realty Corporation says there may be Aboriginal or non-Aboriginal people buried on the 153 hectare site. Aboriginal affairs spokesperson Anne-Marie Flanagan said the province is now studying the property to determine if there are any burial sites present (Marissa Nelson: HS A1).

In a letter to the editor, Bob Thibeau argued the OPP do not deserve praise over the Caledonia dispute (HS A16).

Friday, October 27^th: Opposition MPPs criticized Aaron Lazarus, director of issues management for Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, after he referred to a letter from MP Diane Finley, pleading for help for Caledonia, as “a joke.” Associate press secretary Jane Almeida said it appears Mr. Lazarus was expressing his frustration that Ms. Finley sent the letter four months after the occupation began (Marissa Nelson: HS A1).

Saturday, October 28^th: Prime Minister Harper, in response to questioning from reporters about the Six Nations occupation in Caledonia, said that the dispute is a provincial policing matter (San Grewal: TStar A15).

Lynda Powless, owner/editor of The Turtle Island News: Six Nations actions have always been in defence of the land. The Caledonia Reclamation is no different. Our history has been written by many, and as a result, the perspective has always been one tainted with defence of the encroachments of Euro-Canadian settlers onto Six Nations lands. The simple fact happens to be that the Grand River lands belong to the Six Nations. Land leases and sales occurred over the years, some of them “legal” and the majority illegal. The fact that Canada has failed to live up to its obligations could, in fact, deem even those legal sales questionable (KWR A19).

Monday, October 30^th: Ken Coates, professor of history and dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Waterloo: As much as federal and provincial politicians would wish otherwise, the standoff at Caledonia simply will not go away. While the details of the Caledonia situation are well understood, the dispute’s broader legal and political context is not as familiar to the public. The Indian Claims Commission was set up in 1991 to provide Aboriginal groups with a means of appealing initial land claims decisions by the government and to resolve smaller claims. Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice once served on the commission. There are a number of claims in preparation or at the preliminary discussion stages. In other instances, Aboriginal groups have removed their claim from the government’s process and have gone directly to court, seeking a faster and more precise resolution of their case. It is imperative that a new system be adopted, arm’s length from government, with the power to collect evidence, review arguments and render judgments relating to Aboriginal claims (KWR A7).

Tuesday, October 31^st: OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino said his force will keep the peace in Caledonia but it is not the role of the police to resolve the occupation. The commissioner agreed the occupation is the single biggest issue facing him in his new post. He said one of his first priorities is to review whether a large contingent of officers needs to remain in Caledonia. Meanwhile, officials from the provincial and federal governments are negotiating with Six Nations representatives. Ginette Albert, spokesperson for Ontario Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Ramsay, said Mr. Ramsay and INAC Minister Jim Prentice were scheduled to meet today in Ottawa to talk about ways "to speed things up" (Richard Brennan: TStar A15; Gregory Bonnell: HCH A6, WStar A8, KWS 11; Jack Boland: TSun 9; CP: HS A3, LFP B10, G&M A9, KWR A3).

PC MPP Bob Runciman: Premier McGuinty wants Prime Minister Harper to foot the bill for policing in Caledonia, the $22-million cost of the land, the $1.5-million compensation package for local businesses and who knows what else. Perhaps he will add the cost of compensation promised to local homeowners on June 16 of this year, or better yet, he will ask the PM to keep this promise for him. Should Mr. Harper be expected to pay for things he had no say in approving? The federal government does not have jurisdiction over the title to the occupied land. Furthermore, regulations around land use, construction and development are the province's responsibility, as are public safety of the site and local highways. Every day that Premier McGuinty continues to mismanage the Caledonia file, and fails to uphold the rule of law, is another day that the costs of the occupation will be driven upward. Trying to pass the buck to the federal government merely proves that Mr. McGuinty has lost faith in his own ability to end the occupation (NP A16).

Mainstream Media September 2006

September, 2006

Friday, September 1^st: Ontario Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Ramsay and federal Minister of Indian Affairs Jim Prentice told Six Nations Confederacy Chief Allen MacNaughton in a joint letter that continued disturbance on the Douglas Creek Estates site jeopardizes the land claims negotiations. Mr. Ramsay said Mr. MacNaughton had not responded to the letter Thursday, but the Minister added he had spoken with the Chief after the letter was sent. Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty endorsed the letter and said peace needs to be restored in Caledonia (John Burman: HS A3; Keith Leslie: TStar A7, CBWS 7, KWS 32; CP: CBP A7, HDN 10, ESun 36, WSun 8, LFP B4, KWR A4).

The cost to Ontario taxpayers of purchasing Douglas Creek Estates has climbed by another $8.6 million to $20.9 million. Ontario Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Ramsay said that Ontarians who might question the cost of purchasing the land need to realize that there are “millions of dollars of outstanding liability on unsettled land claims (throughout Ontario)” (April Lindgren: Ctz A5, WStar A9, Gaz A12, NP A4; Antonella Artuso: TSun 10).

Haldimand Mayor Marie Trainer told Premier Dalton McGuinty’s chief of staff Thursday that neighbours of occupied Douglas Creek Estates are so “disheartened” by the occupation that they want the province to buy them out as well (Marissa Nelson and Daniel Nolan: HS A1).

Columnist Lee Prokaska: Perhaps the Aboriginal occupiers simply do not care what message is sent by what happens at Douglas Creek Estates. That attitude risks the erosion of whatever goodwill currently exists toward them in the non-Aboriginal community. Those occupying the site have nothing to lose by vacating the land, and so much to gain (HS A15).

Saturday, September 2^nd: There will be extra police on the streets over the long weekend in Caledonia, where concerns linger about violence erupting between residents and Six Nations protesters (KWR A3).

According to a spokesman for a local residents’ group that calls itself “Caledonia Resistance,” many residents are hunting enthusiasts who have considered turning their guns on the occupiers during tense situations (Alex Dobrota: G&M A10).

The residential area that borders the disputed land in Caledonia has decreased substantially in value. According to Caledonia real estate broker Bruce MacDonald, the only option for those next to the subdivision is to wait, as any house bordering the occupied land would sell at decreased price (Marissa Nelson: HS A5).

The Catholic School Board has reaffirmed a plan to build an eight-foot high privacy fence behind Notre Dame School to shield students from the Aboriginal occupation of the Douglas Creek housing development (Daniel Nolan: HS A5).

Letter writer Joe Galasso, Caledonia: Re: ‘Three hurt in fire on occupied land site’ (Aug. 31): Enough! People are now hurt and all through this stupid and unnecessary occupation, many have said that sooner rather than later someone will be hurt or worse (HS A19).

Letter writer Chris Robertson, Hamilton: Jane Stewart is being paid $1,300 per day to be the provincial negotiator. Would it not be better to pay her a flat $10,000 to resolve the entire crisis? Thirteen hundred dollars a day would seem to me like an incentive for a negotiator to let the crisis go on and on (HS A19).

Wednesday, September 6^th: During a “back-to-class” visit Tuesday at Notre Dame Catholic School in Caledonia, Ont., Premier Dalton McGuinty expressed disappointment over the fact that a wood fence that was supposed to separate the elementary school from the Six Nations occupation taking place next door had not been finished (Antonella Artuso: TSun 8; Lauren LaRose: G&M A5; CP: Gaz A9, VProv A21, LFP B2; KWS 9).

A dozen OPP officers were on hand Tuesday at Notre Dame Catholic School in Caledonia to keep an eye on the Six Nations occupation (Deirdre Healey: HS A1 & A7).

Kingston Whig-Standard editorial: There is no shortage of critics of the provincial government on how it is dealing with the Caledonia land dispute issue. It appears as if this government is trying to handle the matter with kid gloves after the Ipperwash fiasco a decade ago. Today in Caledonia, the province now owns the disputed land, holds it in trust, and lets the Aboriginal People continue to occupy it. That needs to be followed by swift negotiations and responsible actions on both sides of the barricades. A swift solution is in everyone’s interests, and violence and confrontations will only slow the process (KWS 4).

Rory Leishman: The McGuinty government’s decision to continue negotiating with Six Nations occupiers in Caledonia has left Ontario PC leader John Tory justifiably scandalized. Mr. Tory has argued that the Premier should only agree to negotiate with those who respect the rule of law. Mr. Tory is right, in this instance, but he should be more consistent. If he sincerely believes the rule of law should apply “in downtown Toronto or anywhere else,” he should press the attorney general to bring charges against all the men who routinely violate the Criminal Code, by parading naked through the streets of Toronto in that city’s annual gay pride parade (LFP A9).

Friday, September 8^th: Columnist Marion Rice: “why is the Canadian taxpayer responsible for all the costs incurred during this occupation by Aboriginal protesters? Maybe we should start withholding our tax dollars. How long would it take for the governments to respond then? This whole situation in Caledonia is a slap in the face to every law-abiding citizen in Canada” (LFP A10).

Sunday, September 10^th: Brant Bardy, Program Manager, Aboriginal Media, First Nations Technical Institute: Caledonia residents need not worry about their elementary school-aged children being harmed by the Six Nations occupiers. The Six Nations People also have children whom they care for and love. It may be a bit ironic to note that many Six Nations children were taken from their parents by government force and placed in state- and church-sponsored residential schools where they suffered from acculturation and abuse. If anyone can empathize with the need for protecting children, it is Six Nations and other Indigenous Nations of Canada (HS A23).

Monday, September 11^th: Letter writer Garry Horsnell, Brantford: Why don’t the Six Nations’ occupiers and the people of Caledonia get together, occupy public land in front of the parliament buildings in Ottawa and vent their anger at the federal government instead of at each other? (HS A14).

Denis Perreault, Kitchener: I find it interesting that to Premier Dalton McGuinty it is not acceptable that the First Nations occupiers in Caledonia occupy the disputed lands through the winter; however, it seems to be totally acceptable that they occupy the land all spring, summer and autumn. What is Mr. McGuinty’s criteria for acceptability - the weather? (KWR A8).

Wednesday, September 20^th: The province of Ontario is holding consultations with Six Nations officials in an effort to extend Highway 7 across the Grand River (Jeff Outhit: KWR B1).

Saturday, September 23^rd: Six Nations protesters are calling on the province to stop a rally they say could spark a “volatile situation” on the former housing development Aboriginals have occupied in Caledonia, Ont., since February. A couple from Richmond Hill, Ont., who founded the group Caledonia Wake Up Call, has organized a rally for Oct. 15 on the disputed land saying the public has a right to use government property (RLP D12).

Columnist Kelly Patrick: Despite appearances, things have indeed changed for the 11,000 Aboriginal Peoples living on Six Nations, just as they have for the people of neighbouring Caledonia. A wide, nasty rift has opened between the two communities. The Cold War in Caledonia could easily turn hot again, especially if conflict becomes stirred up by outsiders with no connection to Caledonia or the reserve (NP A8).

Letter writer Jeff Outhit: There has been a complex understanding of the entire history of the land surrounding Caledonia, and its claim by the Six Nations. Aboriginal leaders have said they are looking not to displace people. Rather, they seek recognition, consultation and compensation (KWR A1).

Sunday, September 24^th: Halifax Chronicle-Herald editorial: Canada’s much vaunted reputation for tolerance took a step back this summer in Caledonia. Is the new Conservative government ready to change decades of failed policies? Early signs are mixed. As a one-time member of a federal claims commission, Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice has wide experience of Aboriginal affairs. He has already pledged to slash the backlog of claims and to do more for off-reserve Aboriginals. The government has also agreed to honour the promise of $2.2 billion by the previous government to compensate the victims of abuse in Aboriginal residential schools. But other moves seem less promising: Mr. Prentice has declined to intervene in Caledonia, refused to support a UN declaration on indigenous rights and reneged on the last government’s pledge of an extra $5 billion Canadian dollars for social schemes (HCH S6).

Monday, September 25^th: Gary McHale, co-organizer of the “March For Freedom” in Caledonia, took issue with comments made by former Ontario premier David Peterson, in which Mr. Peterson said Friday that he doubts anyone will take the rally seriously. Mr. Peterson stated of the planned event, “There are a lot of wackos in society. It is important not to give them too much credibility.” Mr. McHale, who is also co-organizer of the group “Caledonia Wake Up Call,” called the former premier’s comments offensive. Mr. McHale pointed out that the planned rally is not intended to protest the Six Nations occupation of land in the region, but is meant to highlight the “two-tier justice” that is being dealt out in Caledonia by the OPP (Lauren La Rose: TSun 29, WSun 15).

Tuesday, September 26^th: Ontario Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Ramsay told reporters Monday that his department will not try to stop the controversial rally led by a non-Aboriginal group on land occupied by the Six Nations in Caledonia, Ont. According to Mr. Ramsay, all sides in the dispute have agreed to a 30-metre “no-go” zone, which will be patrolled by the OPP (Chinta Puxley: WStar B7, KWS 11, TSun 27; Marissa Nelson: HS A3; CP: RLP A4, LFP B4; AP: KWR A3; EJ A5).

In a daylong onslaught aimed at Justice T. David Marshall of the Ontario Superior Court, lawyers for the province, the OPP and Six Nations said Monday that the judge was completely off base when he ordered parties in the dispute to report back to him as if he were their supervisor (Kirk Makin: G&M A10; Jessica Leeder: TStar A16).

Wednesday, September 27^th: Ontario Conservative leader John Tory said Tuesday that he estimates the cost to taxpayers of the Six Nations occupation in Caledonia has been approximately $55-million. Ontario Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Ramsay said Tuesday night he had no idea if Mr. Tory’s estimate was correct, but said that his government would tabulate and release to the public the total cost of the occupation (Daniel Nolan: HS A1; CP: RLP E6, OSun 12, TSun 38; WFP A9).

Superior Court Justice David Marshall was criticized by a number of lawyers during an Ontario Court of Appeal panel Tuesday (Peter Van Harten: HS A5).

David Byers, the lawyer representing Caledonia residents, told an Ontario Appeal Court Tuesday that Justice Marshall should not be criticized for allegedly acting improperly, as the judge has kept “an eye on the community interest” (James Rusk: G&M A12; CP: LFP A5).

Ottawa Sun editorial: The new 30-metre “no-go zone” in Caledonia will come as little comfort to local residents who would have preferred a real solution to an occupation that has been allowed to continue for far too long (OSun 14).

Columnist Lee Prosaka: The decision to widen the “no-go zone” around the Six Nations occupation site in Caledonia should be good for people on both sides of the situation, especially if a Richmond Hill couple goes ahead with an extremely ill-conceived “March For Freedom” planned for Oct. 15 on the disputed land. Certainly, rally organizer Gary McHale has the right to express an opinion about the way the Caledonia situation has been handled by police. But having the right to do something does not make it the right thing to do (HS A17).

Thursday, September 28^th: Conservative MPP Bob Runciman accused the Ontario government of weakness for paying for hydro and water into the Caledonia housing site occupied by members of the Six Nations. His accusation came after Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Ramsay confirmed the government has been paying the power bill for the homes since the province bought the site off the developers. Mr. Runciman noted Premier Dalton McGuinty recently spoke out against the occupiers staying on the site during the winter. Mr. Ramsay said he was proud of the government’s handling of the occupation, which has not lead to any loss of life (Daniel Nolan: HS A5).

Despite tensions, Six Nations people plan to return to Edinburgh Square, near the Caledonia fair, to run parking and make sure people understand that the square is on disputed land. Spokeswoman Janie Jamieson said the square will be run the same way as every other year, even if attitudes have changed because of the dispute. Asked whether she was concerned that there might be problems, she said they could only deal with realities as they arise. An OPP spokeswoman confirmed trouble is not expected, though there will be an increased police presence (G&M A12, KWR A3; Marissa Nelson: HS A5).

Susan Clairmont wrote a commentary on Ontario Superior Court Justice David Marshall’s rulings on the Caledonia dispute (HS A2).

Friday, September 29^th: Several letters to the editor dealt with issues concerning the Caledonia occupation (HS A15).