For immediate release
December 4, 2007

Barrett demands public hearings on land disputes Haldimand-Norfolk MPP presents petitions at Queen's Park

Queen's Park-MPP Toby Barrett delivered petitions on behalf of residents from Canfield, Dunnville, Hagersville, and Caledonia, calling for public hearings on land disputes.

Barrett was the first to rise in the Legislature to read in his petition that has garnered hundreds of signatures from local residents in less than a week.

"Whereas, land dispute deliberations to date, have operated under a veil of secrecy, without transparency, and have created an atmosphere of privacy and scepticism, shutting out people from information and decisions that impact them directly," Barrett began. "and Whereas, Ontario's Aboriginal Affairs Minister has indicated, in both the media and during his visit to Caledonia, his intention to garner local public input; and Whereas, our Ontario Legislative Assembly provides a mechanism for open, accountable, transparent recorded discussion through all-party committee hearings that are open to the media,"

"We the undersigned petition our provincially-elected legislators, representing all political parties, to commence public hearings through a select or standing committee, as soon as possible," concluded Barrett.

The Haldimand-Norfolk MPP is continuing to press government for Public hearings as one step toward providing more open and scrutinized communication for all sides, accessing both the wealth of knowledge - and experience - of area residents, and that of historical accounts that have documented land disputes throughout Ontario.

Barrett is asking all those interested to contact his office to obtain a copy of his petition and add their names to the growing list of concerned citizens demanding public hearings on land disputes.

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For more information, please contact MPP Toby Barrett at:
(519) 428-0446 or 1-800-903-8629