disgusting.
EDITORIAL: McGuinty caves again in Caledonia
Toronto Sun
Frightened politicians make lousy negotiators -- especially when they're representing us.
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty is apparently so freaked out by the
native protesters in Caledonia that he's now making major concessions
to them -- with taxpayers' money -- without getting anything in return.
Yesterday, McGuinty announced the province is buying the unfinished
housing subdivision the natives are occupying from local developer
Henco Industries Ltd. The province paid millions for the site, although
exactly how much, he won't say.
The government plans to hold the land in trust while talks aimed at ending the occupation continue.
This is a huge concession.
One of the big concerns the Six Nations negotiators had was that if the
disputed land was developed while they were waiting for their case to
be heard, it would effectively negate their chances of keeping the
land. In other words, it's reasonable to think a court would be
reluctant to order the demolishing of an established subdivision years
down the road, even if the natives won their case. The tendency would
be to try to compensate the natives with something other than land.
By agreeing to buy the land and hold it in trust, McGuinty has removed
that concern, but apparently got nothing in return -- unless there's
now a deal or understanding between the two sides we aren't being told
about.
The protesters say they'll continue to occupy the development until
they win title to the land. Perhaps, sensing weakness from the
province, they're upping the ante and pushing to get the entire issue
settled now, rather than years from now.
And why not? A few days ago, McGuinty said he wouldn't continue
negotiations with the natives until they took down all their barricades
and co-operated with an OPP investigation that led to charges against
seven native protesters last weekend.
Subsequently, the native protesters took down some of the barricades,
but not the main one. And as of yesterday, only one of the seven
protesters sought by police was in custody.
And yet, here's McGuinty not only negotiating but offering a big
concession. Someone should tell the premier that there's not much point
in drawing a line in the sand if, every time someone crosses it, you
just end up drawing a new line.
Toronto Sun
Frightened politicians make lousy negotiators -- especially when they're representing us.
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty is apparently so freaked out by the
native protesters in Caledonia that he's now making major concessions
to them -- with taxpayers' money -- without getting anything in return.
Yesterday, McGuinty announced the province is buying the unfinished
housing subdivision the natives are occupying from local developer
Henco Industries Ltd. The province paid millions for the site, although
exactly how much, he won't say.
The government plans to hold the land in trust while talks aimed at ending the occupation continue.
This is a huge concession.
One of the big concerns the Six Nations negotiators had was that if the
disputed land was developed while they were waiting for their case to
be heard, it would effectively negate their chances of keeping the
land. In other words, it's reasonable to think a court would be
reluctant to order the demolishing of an established subdivision years
down the road, even if the natives won their case. The tendency would
be to try to compensate the natives with something other than land.
By agreeing to buy the land and hold it in trust, McGuinty has removed
that concern, but apparently got nothing in return -- unless there's
now a deal or understanding between the two sides we aren't being told
about.
The protesters say they'll continue to occupy the development until
they win title to the land. Perhaps, sensing weakness from the
province, they're upping the ante and pushing to get the entire issue
settled now, rather than years from now.
And why not? A few days ago, McGuinty said he wouldn't continue
negotiations with the natives until they took down all their barricades
and co-operated with an OPP investigation that led to charges against
seven native protesters last weekend.
Subsequently, the native protesters took down some of the barricades,
but not the main one. And as of yesterday, only one of the seven
protesters sought by police was in custody.
And yet, here's McGuinty not only negotiating but offering a big
concession. Someone should tell the premier that there's not much point
in drawing a line in the sand if, every time someone crosses it, you
just end up drawing a new line.