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Caledonia residents to protest at Queen's Park
CTV.ca News Staff

Dozens of non-native Caledonia residents will rally at Queen's Park Wednesday afternoon to voice their concerns over the long-standing aboriginal standoff.

The citizens protested outside the Metro Convention Centre in the morning where Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty was giving a speech.

The residents fear the land dispute will fall out of the spotlight once the legislature breaks for the summer, and they worry negotiations to resolve the dispute will stall.

Three of the individuals met with McGuinty and expressed their concern, and while the premier listened, he didn't make any new promises about a possible solution, CTV Toronto's Paul Bliss reported.

The protestors held signs and chanted "Where's Dalton?" because they feel McGuinty has not acted to restore order and law to their town.

Numerous violent clashes between residents and protestors have erupted since the standoff by Six Nations members began in late February.

"I'm here because we want our life back in Caledonia," one elderly resident said.

"We want safety for our children. We are worried about our homes, our taxes, and we all feel we are something like hostages in our own town."

McGuinty called the long-standing land dispute a "complicated, delicate situation," but said he will be working with the federal government to resolve it as soon as possible.

"I fully expect that I will come under some criticism from a variety of corners .... but I will do whatever I think is necessary to ensure that we deal with the situation in the best possible way," he told reporters when asked why the province hasn't revealed how much it paid to buy the land from the developer.

The Ontario Provincial Police have also been criticized for its response to the tense situation.

The protest by Caledonia residents, who plan to attend question period and demonstrate outside the legislature, comes one day after the government announced it would be compensating homeowners who have suffered because of the standoff.

No dollar figure has been announced.

Businesses hit hard by the protest have been promised $1.7 million in compensation, and developers building on the disputed land have already been compensated.

Meanwhile, one of several native suspects wanted in connection to the Caledonia clashes has been arrested and charged.

Ken Hill, 47, of Ohsweken, Ont., is charged with two counts of assault for his alleged role in a confrontation between aboriginals and residents on June 4, police said.

Hill is to appear in Cayuga court next month.

With a video report from CTV Toronto's Paul Bliss on scene Click Here

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Adding to this:


McGuinty calls for end to occupation in Caledonia
Canadian Press

TORONTO — Premier Dalton McGuinty is calling on Six Nations members to end their long-running occupation of a housing development site in Caledonia, near Hamilton.

McGuinty says the continuing occupation, which began in late February, means the potential for danger in the area remains high.

He says the government has done what it could "to take the land out of the equation" by negotiating to buy the property from the developer.

McGuinty says it would be "very helpful" if the occupation was to come to an end, and the aboriginal protest lines dismantled.

Opposition leader John Tory says it's about time McGuinty called for an end to the occupation, and accuses the premier of weak leadership in handling the dispute.

McGuinty says there's no need for the Six Nations protesters to continue the occupation, adding the community has the government's attention.

"Boy did they get our attention," he told reporters Thursday.

Meanwhile, an Ontario Superior Court judge has ordered key players in the land dispute - including the Ontario and federal governments - to return to court June 29.

Justice David Marshall wants to know why police still haven't followed his three-month-old order to evict the aboriginals from the Douglas Creek Estates.