For immediate release
November 2, 2007

Land dispute development freeze is ludicrous – Barrett
McGuinty gives away the store, and the farm in Haldimand and Norfolk

Jarvis – “Ludicrous!”

That’s the reaction of Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett to an agreement to cease development on a number of provincially-owned properties in Haldimand and Norfolk as part of the ongoing land dispute negotiations.

“It seems the Ontario government is not content with illegal smoke shops dotting the shoulders of only Highway 6 – they want to open the door to black market tobacco along Highway 3 as well,” Barrett cautioned after viewing the Ministry of Transportation works yard west of Jarvis. “It’s clear that when it comes to provincial action on this land dispute, the inmates are running the asylum – an election and cabinet shuffle has done nothing to change the backwards direction of this government.

“Development in Haldimand has already been brought to a standstill, now government is setting the stage for Norfolk while they give away the store, and the farm!” levelled Barrett. “Meantime, not only negotiations, but Ministry officials, continue to operate under a shroud of secrecy - we have to read about these land freeze schemes in the newspapers.”

Barrett was reacting to media reports that provincial lands on hold not only include 4,744 acres in South Cayuga and 1,413 acres in Townsend, but now also the Sprucedale Correctional Centre, the Norfolk County OPP office, horticultural research station – all near Simcoe - the Canfield yard, the Cayuga court house, as well as the Jarvis yard.

“This is one more in the trail of insults that this government has bestowed on the people of Haldimand and Norfolk Counties,” asserted Barrett. “I find it passing strange that, save for the Burtch property, the only lands cited for halting development are in our two Counties – the Grand River runs a lot further than the borders of Haldimand and Norfolk, and contains many other provincially-owned properties.”

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