For immediate release
June 5, 2008

Barrett to Bryant: Beleaguered Home Builders need a
‘Relationship Fund’ as well

Queen’s Park – On June 4,  MPP Toby Barrett questioned the Aboriginal Affairs Minister if monies from the newly-announced $25 million Relationship Fund are being budgeted to help Toronto lawyers fight local construction companies and home builders and the City of Brantford.

“In the Brantford courtroom on Friday were Marlys Edwardh, a high profile Toronto lawyer who has been hired by HDI, and also their lawyer, Aaron Detlor,” Barrett explained to the Ontario Legislature.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Michael Bryant answered Barrett’s question with a simple, “No.”

“Taxpayers in Haldimand-Norfolk would like to know where the money in this relationship fund will be going,” Barrett pressed. “Home builders like Mike Corrado in Cayuga, for example, are keen to know if the province will establish a relationship fund for them as well. They have tremendous legal fees and have been the victims of extortion. Minister is there a plan in place to help home builders like Mike Corrado?”

Minister Bryant answered by stressing that the relationship fund “is in fact an opportunity to allow for the playing field to be levelled, to allow for greater economic development, to allow for the acceleration of land claims that require action from the federal government, so that First Nations and Metis leadership are in the position where we can move through these claims in particular, and these potential economic development projects, that much more quickly.”

Following question period, Barrett pointed out the contrasting replies – a curt “No” and a long-winded reply that did not answer the question.

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