For immediate release:
December 11, 2009

More Caledonia land dispute costs unveiled

How much more do taxpayers have to pay?

Queen’s Park – Two weeks after forcing the McGuinty Government to admit paying utility bills at Caledonia’s Douglas Creek Estates (DCE), Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett informed the Legislature of further costs.

“According to an FOI, I regret to report that the DCE bill gets higher,” Barrett reported yesterday. “Why has government paid $213,000 for soil excavation and demolition? Why pay $50,000 for erosion control? Why shell out $2,000 for "no trespassing" signs that allow no one but occupiers on the site, not even OPP? Why $103,000 for fencing and $131,000 for an archaeological assessment? Property taxes over three years come in at $152,000.”

The taxpayer funded expenditures were just a number of costs uncovered in a string of invoices obtained through a freedom of information request.
“We've finally gotten Dalton to admit that taxpayers are footing the heat and electricity bills for the lone remaining house on the site occupied by militants, a house the occupiers have used as a base for intimidation, trespassing and assault,” Barrett continued. “We already know McGuinty spent $22 million of taxpayers' money to purchase the land.

“I ask the Liberal members opposite: How much more do taxpayers have to pay for an invalid land dispute they're not even allowed to access? What makes you think you can get away with this?”

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For more information, please contact MPP Toby Barrett at: (416) 325-8404,
(519) 428-0446 or 1-800-903-8629
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO
Thursday 10 December 2009

MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

ABORIGINAL LAND DISPUTE

Mr. Toby Barrett: On February 28, 2006, the subdivision in Caledonia, Douglas Creek Estates, was occupied by force and, three and a half years later, the site remains occupied while Mr. McGuinty picks up the tab.

According to an FOI, I regret to report that the DCE bill gets higher. Given that they're paying the bills, people ask what other costs are being borne by taxpayers for Douglas Creek Estates. Why has government paid $213,000 for soil excavation and demolition? Why pay $50,000 for erosion control? Why shell out $2,000 for "no trespassing" signs that allow no one but occupiers on the site, not even OPP? Why $103,000 for fencing and $131,000 for an archaeological assessment? Property taxes over three years come in at $152,000.

We've finally gotten Dalton to admit that taxpayers are footing the heat and electricity bills for the lone remaining house on the site occupied by militants, a house the occupiers have used as a base for intimidation, trespassing and assault. We already know McGuinty spent $22 million of taxpayers' money to purchase the land.

I ask the Liberal members opposite: How much more do taxpayers have to pay for an invalid land dispute they're not even allowed to access? What makes you think you can get away with this?