Legislation for Caledonia Inquiry passes 1st reading

This past week brought the ongoing three years of Haldimand and Brantford area land disputes to the forefront at Queens Park.

 Wednesday, I introduced a Private Members Bill titled, ‘Truth about Caledonia Act, 2009’. This proposed legislation calls for an inquiry “into the administration of justice, law enforcement and the ownership of land within the former Haldimand Tract and nearby areas.” 

 In spite of Mr. McGuinty’s public opposition to the bill last Wednesday, it passed 1st reading several hours later.  Debate on 2nd reading is scheduled for March 12th.

 Of course in the world of politics, things rarely go entirely as planned.

On Tuesday – the day before - I was given agenda time to explain the bill to MPP colleagues at Queens Park. However, MPP’s had already received information opposing the bill from a group purporting to represent the views of Caledonia and Haldimand. Meanwhile, back in Simcoe the group of seven or so picketed my office.  The following day, the group, now numbering four, arrived outside Queens Park.

Despite this opposition to the bill, the majority feedback I continue to receive asks for all concerned to stay the course.

This is not the first call for an inquiry and it won’t be the last.

This legislation builds on an Opposition Motion of two and a half years ago – actually passed by the legislature – calling for an inquiry that would, “inquire into and report on how absence of communication and lack of leadership by Premier McGuinty and his Liberal government allowed the Caledonia situation to escalate to a full-blown standoff and subsequently a public security crisis.” 

The bill also emanates from dozens and dozens of questions raised in the Legislature, and in Committee. It builds on the Haldimand Proclamation submitted a year ago to Haldimand Council; a petition I drafted to hold public hearings; and a resolution drafted to restore policing to the 6th Line and to Douglas Creek Estates.   The bill is also triggered by Ken Hewitt’s police inquiry petition – part two of which I publicly signed January 11th - that will be delivered to Queens Park this Spring.

I have sent drafts of this legislation to a 400 plus e-mail list - several times over - and have communicated with a number of lawyers. There’s been lots of input and help on this bill – and I sincerely thank everyone for their suggestions.

However three years of government inaction has created factions, varying opinions, and some hard feelings in Caledonia and area. I feel these requests for a public inquiry, and the long sought-after answers a public inquiry would provide, will go a long way to mending the fences that have been built up since February 28, 2006.

This inquiry will make, “recommendations directed to the prevention of attempts of intimidation, and related activities, in similar circumstances”.  To bow down to what I consider attempts of intimidation from Mr. McGuinty - or anyone else at this point - and put the brakes on the, “Truth about Caledonia Act, 2009” would be hypocritical at best, and an affront to the democratic process.

I look forward to a full and thorough debate of this proposed legislation on March 12th, and look forward to a very large assembly at Queens Park later on this Spring for Ken Hewitts’ petition demanding a police inquiry.