For immediate release:
April 15, 2008
Has government called for two year development moratorium?
Instead of development freeze, Barrett calls for negotiation freeze
Queen’s Park— MPP Barrett demanded answers from Ontario’s Aboriginal Affairs Minister today following news that government has offered a two year development moratorium for "no go" properties to be selected by Six Nations.
Barrett asked questions in the Ontario Legislature after reports that Ontario’s lead negotiator, proposed a development-freeze along the Grand River in return for an end to native protests.
“Your government’s principal representative at the Six Nations negotiation table, according to the Brantford Expositor and the Tekawennake - visited the Six Nations confederacy last week and proposed a halt to development along parts of the Grand River in return for an end to native protests,” Barrett said. “Minister, is it true your government has now proposed a two-year moratorium on development for "no go" properties to be selected by Six Nations?”
In his response, Minister Bryant attempted to dodge the implications of a moratorium by indicating his ongoing work to find a “solution” to the “satisfaction” of all parties.
Barrett followed up with a supplementary question calling on government to end negotiations with lawbreakers.
“Your government already froze development on 10 properties owned by the Ontario Realty Corp – not only at DCE but also Burtch Correctional Centre, Sprucedale correctional centre, a horticultural research farm, the former OPP detachment at Simcoe, two MTO yards, the Cayuga Courthouse, and two provincial parks in Haldimand,” Barrett informed the Minister. “The operative phrase locally is ‘if you build it – they will come’….I realize you have a P-R problem with ongoing protests but your proposal is to stop development.
“Is this your version of ‘militant greenbeltism’? What does this tell future builders and investors? Why do you negotiate with lawbreakers? Minister, will you now stop negotiations until protesting stops?”
Minister Bryant fell back by stating his approach to continue negotiations falls in line with the recommendations of the Ipperwash Inquiry.
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For more information, please contact
MPP Toby Barrett at: (416) 325-8404,
(519) 428-0446 or 1-800-903-8629 |
