Courage and Cowardice in Caledonia

October 7, 2007

With the Remember Us March just one day away, the opportunity to take a stand has shown what many people are truly made of. Perhaps it was naive of me to expect to see the “leaders” accept a chance to show leadership, but the list of true cowards is growing each day. A look at some of those who have shown great courage and some who are trying desperately to hide under a rock is in order.

The Gualtieri Family:

One can not use the words Caledonia and Courage without immediately thinking of these incredible people. After the attempted murder of Sam Gualtieri in a home he was building for his daughter on Stirling Street, these folks had every reason in the world to run and hide from the media, the public, and the thugs who altered their lives forever.

Within hours of the attack, they had decided to go to the media, fight for justice, and will have Sam’s brother Joe speaking on their behalf at the March. I have had the privilege of meeting and speaking with not only Joe but other family members and they are a true symbol of what this Country should be about. Hard working honest people who refuse to give up their rights and freedoms at the whim of a handful of criminals.

Canadian Taxpayers Federation Support ‘Remember Us’ March

Statement for the Freedom March, Caledonia 

Today is a day when we should all be at home with family celebrating Thanksgiving.  Instead, sadly enough, you are here making an important point about freedom: freedom of expression, freedom of speech, freedom of association, and freedom not to live in fear in your own homes and your own city.

We have been blessed to live in Canada, a country that usually celebrates these freedoms even when they challenge us on sensitive issues such as this.   Everyone wants to see a peaceful resolution to the troubles in Caledonia. Everyone wants a quick resolution to the troubles and disagreements in Caledonia.  

Governments need to step up to facilitate an end to the standoff so freedom can be returned to Caledonia. The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is a national, not-for-profit organization with 68,000 supporters. Our mandate is to fight for lower taxes, less waste and greater accountability in government.  The standoff has cost taxpayers over $50 million dollars and government has not been accountable for the tremendous hardships all have faced. People like the Gualtieri’s and the Brown’s, injured OPP officers and so many others can attest to that. 

It has been more than 19 long months since this standoff began and it appears no closer to resolution today. Thanks to the unfortunate acts of a few, the failure of governments and the failure of police to act, all are suffering.

Read the full statement here