For Immediate Release
November 4, 2015
QUEEN’S PARK – It’s been a year since work stopped on the Provincial Highway 3 bridge in Cayuga due to protests from Confederacy Chiefs and their Haudenosaunee Development Institute (HDI). Today, local MPP Toby Barrett questioned the government what the plan is to finish this project.
“We know this government has a history of throwing money at problems,” Barrett told the Ontario Legislature. “ A couple of questions: How much money has been sanctioned by the Ontario government, how much is paid to the Haudenosaunee Development Institute to allow construction projects to continue in Haldimand county and why have protesters shut down this bridge? Do they have an expectation of payment or further payment from this government? Is the minister planning on paying them to get this bridge finished?”
The Minister of Aboriginal Affairs David Zimmer, explained the government is consulting with Six Nations, the Haudenosaunee, the contractor of the project and local residents – he said they are working hard to find a solution to the problem.
Zimmer continued: “In the meantime, the bridge does remain open. It is monitored by the contractor involved, Dufferin Construction. There are no immediate safety issues because the bridge is being closely monitored by the contractor.”
Barrett was not satisfied with this response as he has formally asked for updates six times over the past year.
“We haven’t seen the solution yet, obviously,” Barrett quipped. “Also in Haldimand County, work on another bridge, the Caledonia bridge, is planned for next year. Haldimand county council wants the province to postpone work on the Caledonia bridge before it gets started as they fear a repeat of what is presently happening down in Cayuga.
“What is he [Minister] doing to prevent protesters from blocking construction in Caledonia? Again, will he be arranging payment to the protestors to allow construction of this other bridge, the Caledonia bridge?”
The Minister of Aboriginal Affairs referred the supplementary to the Minister of Transportation, Steven Del Duca, who said the government takes its “responsibilities with respect to the duty to consult with First Nations extremely seriously.”
Outside the Legislature, Barrett said there are no more details, no more answers from either Ministry and they seem helpless in the face of protest.
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For more information please contact MPP Toby Barrett at
519-428-0446, 905-765-8413 or 1-800-903-8629
HANSARD – November 4, 2015
Mr. Toby Barrett: To the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs. A year ago today, work stopped on the provincial Highway 3 bridge in Cayuga due to a protest from the Confederacy Chiefs and their Haudenosaunee Development Institute. Traffic from a main provincial highway is rerouted on a temporary bridge.
We know this government has a history of throwing money at problems. A couple of questions: How much money has been sanctioned by the Ontario government, how much is paid to the Haudenosaunee Development Institute to allow construction projects to continue in Haldimand county and why have protesters shut down this bridge? Do they have an expectation of payment or further payment from this government? Is the minister planning on paying them to get this bridge finished?
Hon. David Zimmer: Thank you for that question. It’s an important issue. It’s an important safety issue for all the residents using Highway 3
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Hon. David Zimmer: Thank you for that question. It’s an important issue. It’s an important safety issue for all the residents using Highway 3, over which the Cayuga bridge spans the Grand River. We are in negotiations and exercising our consultation process efforts with the Six Nations, with the Haudenosaunee, with the contractor involved and, indeed, with the local citizens. We are working very hard to find a solution to this problem.
In the meantime, the bridge does remain open. It is monitored by the contractor involved, Dufferin Construction. There are no immediate safety issues because the bridge is being closely monitored by the contractor. In the meantime, we are continuing our efforts to resolve this issue with all of the interested parties.
The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?
Mr. Toby Barrett: The minister knows, over the past year, I have formally asked for updates six times on construction. We haven’t seen the solution yet, obviously. Also in Haldimand county, work on another bridge, the Caledonia bridge, is planned for next year. Haldimand county council wants the province to postpone work on the Caledonia bridge before it gets started as they fear a repeat of what is presently happening down in Cayuga.
If the Haldimand county councillors see potential conflict, can the minister tell this House how he thinks there won’t be conflict when construction starts on the Caledonia bridge? What is he doing to prevent protesters from blocking construction in Caledonia? Again, will he be arranging payment to the protestors to allow construction of this other bridge, the Caledonia bridge?
The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Minister?
Hon. David Zimmer: The Minister of Transportation.
The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The Minister of Transportation.
Hon. Steven Del Duca: Thanks very much, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs for his first answer and also to the member opposite for this question. I know that this question was asked here in the chamber, I believe it was a couple of weeks ago, by the same member, and as I said at that time, just to echo what the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs did say, of course, this government, the Ministry of Transportation and all of us on this side of the House take our responsibilities with respect to the duty to consult with First Nations extremely seriously.
At the same time, of course, we do understand the importance of making sure that these connections, these bridges—not only Cayuga but also the other one that the member opposite referenced—remain in good working condition and that we can continue to do work to make sure that we are providing the residents of that part of Ontario with safe transportation routes. We’ll continue to do the work that’s required with respect to our duty to consult. We’ll continue to make sure that these structures remain safe and, as I said a couple of weeks ago, we’re happy to provide an update once we are in a position to do so.