For Immediate Release
June 6, 2012
Queen’s Park – Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett is challenging a comment made by Premier Dalton McGuinty yesterday with regard to the on-going land dispute in Caledonia.
In response to a question from Opposition Leader Tim Hudak regarding the energy deal between Six Nations and Samsung, the Premier digressed and said: “We started off by talking about the economy and jobs; now we’re talking about an alleged occupation.”
“What a slap to the face for the people of Caledonia who have been living this for over six years,” Barrett said. “How can we expect anything to be resolved in Haldimand and Brantford when we have a provincial government who denies there’s anything wrong?”
Barrett took the opportunity during a late show at Queen’s Park last night to remind the McGuinty government that there are many real indicators of a continuing occupation. “Six years after the land dispute began at Douglas Creek Estates in Caledonia, the scars of mayhem remain: a burned-out tractor-trailer; the blocking of home building, commercial and industrial development; and a continuing seeding of division within the community,” Barrett told members of Legislature. “A once-promising subdivision, Douglas Creek Estates, now features warrior flags, a hydro tower barricade and occupiers.
“Nearby, yet-to-be-wired hydro towers stand untouched—they’ve been there for six years, stalling transmission from Niagara—that cost the Ontario government $100 million. After six years, people are understandably nervous, sceptical and untrusting of the McGuinty government’s mishandling of any situation to do with either land disputes or the transmission of electricity.”
McGuinty’s remarks not only drew sharp criticism from Barrett, but also immediately from people in Caledonia and Brantford who were quick to turn to Twitter and email to voice their opinions.
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