For Immediate Release
December 8, 2009

Government ignores security risk at Caledonia hydro transformer station
McGuinty condones criminal behaviour: Barrett

Queen’s Park – Just over a week after MPP Toby Barrett asked the McGuinty government about work to prevent further security breaches at the Caledonia transformer station, the Haldimand Norfolk representative reported on another security incident while government slept at the switch.

“To the Acting Premier: 12 days ago, I asked about the blockade of the Niagara to Caledonia power project which ends at the Caledonia transformer station,” recalled Barrett. “Last Friday night, December 4, I’m told that a truck drove directly at the Caledonia transformer station and rammed the security vehicle. I’m sure this was all caught on tape. My question: Has anything been done after I raised this issue 12 days ago and has anything been done to pick up the attacker?”

Once again the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs Brad Duguid danced around the issue, instead choosing to highlight the government’s, “utmost important priority … is working with all of the parties together.”

Barrett continued his interrogation by stating: “We’re suffering three-and-a-half years of provocation and intimidation in Caledonia, and it’s clear this McGuinty government condones and encourages this criminal behaviour.

“Three and a half years ago at the same location, the Caledonia transformer station was torched - the security vehicle was also set on fire after that,” Barrett reminded the Legislature in his supplementary question. “Acting Premier, or whichever minister wishes to answer, has anything been done in the last three and a half years to protect vulnerable security personnel from these attacks? Secondly, is anything being done to prevent another million-dollar torching of the Caledonia transformer station?”

Duguid chose to ignore the direct question about a clear security issue, stating that Barrett should “start working with us”, “to heal the wounds of the past.”, adding that, “The progress that needs to be made is not being made at the bargaining table at this time.”

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For more information, please contact MPP Toby Barrett at
(519) 428-0446 or (905)-765-8413, 1-800-903-8629

ORAL QUESTIONS
Aboriginal land dispute

Mr. Toby Barrett: To the Acting Premier: 12 days ago, I asked about the blockade of the Niagara to Caledonia power project which ends at the Caledonia transformer station. Your Attorney General danced around the issue, didn’t answer and, I doubt, took any answers. Last Friday night, December 4—

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Order.

Last Friday night, December 4, I’m told that a truck drove directly at the Caledonia transformer station and rammed the security vehicle. I’m sure this was all caught on tape.

My question: Has anything been done after I raised this issue 12 days ago and has anything been done to pick up the attacker?

Hon. Dwight Duncan: The Minister of Aboriginal Affairs.

Hon. Brad Duguid: There are a lot of issues, long term and short term, that have to do with the DC lands. Our government is committed to working with all our partners, whether it be Hydro or whether it be the Ontario Realty Corp., who manage the properties to ensuring that, number one, the most important priority is public safety. Number two, our utmost important priority as a government is working with all of the parties together, Six Nations leaders and the local community, working together to build relationships so that we can move forward and try to build economic development opportunities in this region.

That’s our priority. We’ll continue to stick to that priority, and we’ll certainly not be sidetracked by attempts to try to rabble-rouse in that area or attempts to try to do other things—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. Supplementary.

Mr. Toby Barrett: We’re suffering—

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Stop the clock. If the Minister of Finance and the member from Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke want to have the discussion which it appears is where they’re going, I would much better that discussion not take place within the chamber. Please continue.

Mr. Toby Barrett: We’re suffering three and a half years of provocation and intimidation in Caledonia, and it’s clear this McGuinty government condones and encourages this criminal behaviour.

Three and a half years ago at the same location, the Caledonia transformer station was torched. The security vehicle was also set on fire after that. As you know, the road to the south, the land to the west and the north is an OPP no-go zone.

Acting Premier, or whichever minister wishes to answer, has anything been done in the last three and a half years to protect vulnerable security personnel from these attacks? Secondly, is anything being done to prevent another million-dollar torching of the Caledonia transformer station?

Hon. Brad Duguid: Rather than trying to reopen these old wounds, I invite the member opposite to start working with us and taking the example of members like Dave Levac, a neighbour of his, or taking the example of some local members who are doing what they can to try to heal the wounds of the past.

My question to the member is this: When was the last time he talked to his federal counterpart, Diane Finley? When was the last time he recognized that this entire issue comes as a result of a 200-year-old land claim?

The progress that needs to be made is not being made at the bargaining table at this time. We need to continue to put pressure on the federal government. He should be putting pressure on his federal member, who I do not see showing leadership in this area, and trying to ensure that the federal government is doing everything they can at the bargaining table. Currently, we don’t believe they—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you.