For immediate release:
Nov. 26, 2009

It’s 3 ½ years and still no answers on
abandoned Caledonia hydro towers
Government plays hot potato with query – still no response

Queen’s Park – It was back to the future for MPP Toby Barrett as he once again was met with non-answers and government hyperbole to three-and-a-half year old questions he reiterated in the Ontario Legislature today.

“Three and a half years ago – May 9, 2006 to be exact – I stood in this house and I warned you about the breach of security with respect to the power system at Caledonia,” recalled Barrett. “Just two weeks later, the lights went out - Three and a half years ago the Niagara to Caledonia hydro tower project ground to a halt by militants. Premier, what headway have you made since 2006 in keeping this tower project moving forward?”

As usual the Premier ducked the question, however this time instead of handing the hot potato to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, he redirected Barrett’s query to the Attorney General for response.

Following a finger-pointing discourse from the Attorney General on federal responsibilities and a complete lack of reference to the hydro towers, Barrett went directly back to the heart of the issue:

“Look, it’s been three-and-a-half years - we’ve had trestles from these power towers being used as blockades,” Barrett reported. “This Niagara Reinforcement project is massive. It runs the length of the Niagara peninsula, from the Allanburg transfer station at Thorold up to the Caledonia transfer station and beyond to Middleport.

“I’m told it was meant to serve 300,000 people, but we’ve had Mohawk warriors on top of these towers—not Hydro One workers. Premier, or various ministers: After three-and-a-half years, just how much longer will this project be blockaded?”

Once again the Premier and Attorney General passed the buck, referring to the difficulties involved in resolving the ongoing land dispute and failing to give any update whatsoever on the standstill the Niagara Reinforcement Project continues to endure.

For those keeping score: Three and a half years, and zero answers.

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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: A question to the Premier: The Caledonia standoff is in its 1,367th day. Three-and-a-half years ago, May 9, 2006, to be exact, I stood in this House and I warned you about the breach of security with respect to the power system in Caledonia. Just two weeks later, the lights went out.

Three-and-a-half years ago, the Niagara-to-Caledonia hydro tower project was ground to a halt by militants. Premier, what headway have you made since 2006 with respect to keeping this tower project moving forward?

Hon. Dalton McGuinty: I will refer this to the Attorney General.

Hon. Christopher Bentley: We know it’s a very difficult and a very challenging situation in that part of the province. We know that emotions in these situations can run very high. We have a number of different agencies and the police working with the community, and working very hard with my colleague, the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and his officials, to try and not only diffuse situations, but to try and ensure the long-term resolution of this, which, of course, at the end of the day, involves a federal land claim where we need a long-term federal solution and assistance on this area. I will be pleased to refer—

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

Mr. Toby Barrett: Look, it’s been three-and-a-half years. We’ve had trestles from these power towers being used as blockades. This Niagara Reinforcement project is massive. It runs the length of the Niagara peninsula, from the Allanburg transfer station at Thorold up to the Caledonia transfer station and beyond to Middleport—eight hundred megawatts of transmission capacity. I’m told it was meant to serve 300,000 people, but we’ve had Mohawk warriors on top of these towers—not Hydro One workers.

Premier, or various ministers: After three-and-a-half years, just how much longer will this project be blockaded?

Hon. Christopher Bentley: It is a very difficult situation, but you know, it’s not just been three-and-a-half years—it’s been 200 years. If there’s a 200 year-old dispute, and the federal government has jurisdiction over land claims, I know my friend would want to join us, would want to ask the federal government, become as engaged as we are, and get to the table as we are.
Assist us in finding the resolution that all of the residents in that area, and in the province of Ontario, want. It is a very challenging issue: three-and-a-half years, my friend refers to, and the other 196-and-a-half that this issue has actually been alive. It’s time for all to come to the table in good faith and find the way forward.