For immediate release:
December 13, 2006
MCGUINTY BREAKS PROMISES TO CALEDONIA
Winter approaches with protestors
still on land and no compensation for residents
Queen’s Park) – Progressive
Conservative Party Leader John Tory today pressed Dalton McGuinty to explain
why he’s broken his promises to Caledonia residents during the ongoing
protest there.
“Dalton McGuinty promised
this would be resolved by winter,” said Tory. “He also promised
compensation for residents. Like many of his promises, he hasn’t
kept his word and he hasn’t delivered.”
On August 31, 2006, Dalton McGuinty
was quoted in the St. Catharines Standard saying protestors staying on
the Douglas Creek Estates “in some kind of permanent way, through
the winter for example – that is not acceptable to us.” Winter
begins in nine days, the protestors have been on the land for 289 days,
and there is no sign Dalton McGuinty is keeping his promise. The government
also promised compensation for the residents “directly affected
by the…blockade.” That compensation hasn’t come.
Tory visited Caledonia for the
sixth time last week to meet with residents to hear about the disruption
the protest is causing to their lives. “It was my sixth visit to
Caledonia. I did what the Premier wouldn’t – I accepted an
invitation and stayed overnight with a family whose home backs onto the
Douglas Creek Estates,” said Tory.
“While I was there I heard
about significant disruptions to their lives which continue. I heard about
new buildings being constructed by the protestors on the disputed land
despite claims from this government that there is moratorium on construction.
I heard about kids still going to school past barricades, police cars,
and barriers,” said Tory.
He added: “These people
see two sets of rules. They see no one in government standing up for them.
They were mistakenly counting on Dalton McGuinty to keep his word. While
he can give $3 million to a CEO late on a Friday afternoon when he quits,
Dalton McGuinty can’t seem to find it in himself to keep his word
or do anything for these residents as he promised to do.”
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For more information, please contact
MPP Toby Barrett at: (519) 428-0446
or 1-800-903-8629 |
