For immediate release:
Nov. 18, 2009

Why is McGuinty paying militants’ hydro bill in Caledonia?
Mute Minister leaves Barrett to answer own question

Queen’s Park – On February 28, 2006, a subdivision in Caledonia – Douglas Creek Estates – was forcibly occupied. Since that time, this property and the remaining house on the site has served as a base for intimidation, harassment, trespassing, assault and attempted murder.

“Three and a half years ago you purchased the property from the home builder,” area MPP Barrett explained to the Premier during Question Period. “For three-and-a-half years, someone has been providing water and electricity to this occupied house.”

With the Premier and Aboriginal Affairs Minister refusing to answer whether government was paying the utilities at the occupied house, MPP Barrett filled in their blanks: “to answer my own question, you are footing the electricity bill. …..”

Barrett went on, “Since 2006, Dalton Creek Estates and the remaining house have been occupied and barricaded under the flag of the Mohawk Warriors. This is an organization described by the OPP as ‘…a lawless group, usually armed, with a reputation akin to the Hell’s Angels’.”

Barrett then demanded to know what the Ontario government is doing about the perception it is supporting and condoning actions of militant law-breakers by continuing to pay the water and electricity bills, before asking, “When will you stop sticking taxpayers with these utility bills?”

The Minister, following the lead of his Leader’s previous duck the question strategy, attempted to sidetrack the question by suggesting he couldn’t answer as he felt Barrett was, “getting very close to an ongoing lawsuit”.

The blatant attempt to derail the issue triggered pandemonium in the Legislature which required the Speaker to twice ‘stop the clock’ in order to quell the outrage.

After the Minister made another stab at ultimately failing to address the question,

Barrett filed a request for a “late show” with the clerk allowing further time that evening to seek a more fulsome response from the Premier and/or Minister of Aboriginal Affairs.

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For more information, please contact MPP Toby Barrett at: (416) 325-8404,
(519) 428-0446 or 1-800-903-8629

Aboriginal land dispute

Mr. Toby Barrett: To the Premier: In February 28, 2006, a subdivision in Caledonia, Douglas Creek Estates, was forcibly occupied. Since that time, this property and the remaining house on the site has served as a base for intimidation, harassment, trespassing, assault and attempted murder. Three and a half years ago you purchased the property from the home builders

For three-and-a-half years, someone has been providing water and electricity to this occupied house.

Premier, has your government been paying the bills for militants illegally occupying that house?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: To the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs.

Hon. Brad Duguid: I want to start off by saying that, indeed, we are working very, very hard in that part of the province to work with Six Nations’ leadership, to work with the local municipalities. We’re making great progress in bringing people together in that community. Municipality after municipality now in that region—and the member knows this—are signing agreements with the Six Nations to work together.

When the member raises question like these with the intent, I believe, to split parties apart and try to drive a wedge between parties, I think it is particularly unhelpful.

We’re going to continue working with all parties in that area to build a better relationship so we can move forward together.

Interjection.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): The honourable member—thank you. Supplementary?

Mr. Toby Barrett: Premier, to answer my own question, you are footing the electricity bill. Since 2006, Dalton Creek Estates and the remaining house have been occupied and barricaded under the flag of the Mohawk Warriors. This is an organization described by the OPP as “A lawless group, usually armed, with a reputation akin to the Hell’s Angels.”

On April 20, 2006, the OPP were driven from the site in a pitched battle involving baseball bats, shovels, hockey sticks, two-by-fours and bags filled with rocks.

By continuing to pay the water and the electricity bills, what are you doing about the perception out there that your McGuinty government is supporting and condoning the activities and actions of militant law-breakers? When will you stop sticking taxpayers with these utility bills?

Hon. Brad Duguid: It sounds very close to me like the member’s getting very close to an ongoing lawsuit that’s taking place, so I’m not going to comment directly on that aspect. But I will comment on—
Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Stop the clock.
Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Start the clock.
Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Okay, stop it again.
Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Start it up again. Minister?

Hon. Brad Duguid: Thank you. Actually, I appreciate the opportunity to respond to this because it gives me an opportunity to compare the approaches being taken by members and leaders in that community, like our member from Brant, Dave Levac, who is tirelessly working, contrary to the member opposite, to bring people together in that community to reach out and try to create economic development partnerships. That’s the approach that this government takes; that’s—

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