Vacuum at the top

Wednesday September 19, 2007
Simcoe Reformer

The McGuinty government moves in strange and mysterious ways.

But Ontarians at least can thank the provincial Liberals for laying down a marker that will help voters distinguish them from the pack in the Oct. 10 election.

Elections are about leadership. Sometimes they are only about leadership. Parties with sound policies sometimes fall short because voters find their leaders lacking in this vital area.

The incumbent Liberals were forced to speak about leadership this weekend following a serious assault in Caledonia. Native youths allegedly beat a developer into unconsciousness on Thursday.

The assault occurred after natives occupied a subdivision site because they decided the developers were not respecting new land-use controls that Six Nations has claimed in southern Ontario.

Aboriginals are slowly but surely sterilizing development in communities along the Grand River. They are emboldened by the fact that - after 18 months of confrontation - no one at the provincial or federal level will stand up to them.

Read the full story here

Cowering on Caledonia

National PostThe ongoing illegal actions of native protesters in Caledonia, Ont., has been the focus of many stories and columns in the Post. And in Monday’s issue, it was again the subject of a scathing editorial, titled The Scandal of Caledonia. Readers we’ve heard from have generally applauded that editorial, though few have employed as colourful language as the letter-writer below.
  –Paul Russell, NP letters editor

This was a phenomenal and timely editorial. The first-and-last issue in (any) Ontario election can be only the maintenance of “the basic rule of law” for one-and-all alike.

Mr. McGuinty’s Liberal government — smarmy, politically-correct, pusillanimous, cowering, buckpassing, sanctimonious, immensely well remunerated financially — was sworn to uphold the Law in Ontario:. They have since rendered increasing chunks of Ontario ungoverned and ungovernable, in increasing numbers of places where law-and-order are remote memories.

Read the full story here

Native man threatens ‘War’ against Pickering Residents

Supreme Court Rules against Native Group in Pickering

Native man threatens for ‘War’ against Pickering Residents

Thu Sep 13, 2007
By Kristen Calis
NewsDurhamregion.com

PICKERING — A City councillor believes the public should be consulted more when reviewing Pickering’s Official Plan

At the latest planning and development meeting, some changes were made to the POP review final work plan, but it carried and will be brought to Council for final approval. The work plan combines 18 initiatives into seven City-initiated amendments, such as implementing the Central Pickering Development Plan, sustainability initiatives, and housekeeping updates that will be completed over the next three years. It also includes recommendations from residents, agencies, land developers, First Nations and City staff. Forty thousand dollars is set aside for consulting services related to the initiative, but for Ward 1 City Councillor Jennifer O’Connell, that isn’t enough.

“Why are we spending the same amount of money participating in Communities in Bloom (CIB) or renovations within City Hall as the most important planning document for the City’s future?” she said at the meeting. She added she doesn’t feel CIB or City Hall renovations are unimportant, but she wants to make sure the official plan is on the priority list.

The amendments she introduced include a strategy to engage the community, the creation of Pickering’s Official Plan Community Advisory Committee, an individual review process for the Seaton neighbourhood and face-to-face consultation with the First Nations communities specifically impacted.

Native activist David Grey Eagle Sanford came to remind Council members of the land rights of aboriginal peoples in the Constitution Act while referring to Seaton. Mr. Sanford has in the past referred to Seaton as First Nations land, and feels Native groups have not been properly consulted in the development plans.

“They just don’t get it and that saddens me greatly,” he said in an interview. “They’re going to bring war upon themselves. Do they want a Caledonia situation coming here? Because that’s what’s next.”

The full story and more Pickering coverage here