It wasn’t too long ago that Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice took over the highly complex issue of compensation for aboriginal people victimized by their residential schools experience. The outgoing Liberals had struck a deal that apparently was an eye-opener – essentially handing money over without proof a person had actually ever been at one of those places. It rested on Prentice’s broad shoulders to tighten things up.
Still, it’s a multi-billion-dollar deal. Simply breathtaking – enough money to give the Canadian military their dream shopping list for the next four years. Enough to bail out all those floundering farmers. Enough to start slashing health care waiting times for all Canadians.
Anyway, it goes forward. Wiser minds than mine – lawyers, lawyers and more lawyers – have determined there’s no turning back. Pay now, the logic goes, or the feds will end up paying more later.
So it was hard to keep from thinking about that as I watched the footage of native protestors in Caledonia dragging a downed hydro tower along a road and using a power shovel to rip up the asphalt. I thought about it as I fielded calls from some anguished business owners in that town, who are teetering on the edge of failure –their customers scared off, and now the lights extinguished after a big transformer was torched.
I certainly thought about it as I read through emails like this one from a couple of fed-up constituents:
We watched tonight’s news coverage. We were disgusted by the actions that continue to be allowed by Native Canadians and the lack of policing by the OPP. As non natives we would not be allowed (by Canadian law) to behave in the way that the Natives have been allowed. We would have been arrested and on our way to jail. Why do we have to abide by Canadian law but the natives do not?
As constituents in your area we would like to know what your position is regarding the First Nations situation in Caledonia? We would like to know why Canadian troops are fighting terrorists in other countries yet the native terrorist acts are allowed in our own country? The natives voice to whatever news media that will listen that they are a nation upon themselves and that they will deal only with our federal government. When will our federal government become involved? Perhaps the funding to the “Nation upon themselves” should be redirected to other areas. Natives should not be allowed to have it both ways.
Hmmm. Politically incorrect, for sure. But also a reasonable, rational reaction from people who know damn well that if they pried the top off an Ontario Hydro transformer, and poured in gasoline, their butts would be behind bars.
Tonight the barricades, most of them at least, have thankfully been removed. There is a certain calm, much to the relief of the Dalton McGuinty government and former premier David Peterson, who’s been acting as go-between. But about 3,000 townspeople remain without power, and the raw nerves this has caused could take months, or years, to be soothed.
The native leaders are demanding the federal government get involved in the next round of talks.
Some in Caledonia would say, no wonder.
43 comments ↓
As these is an issue involving native land claims, I would believe the the federal government would be solely responsible.
Of course police on the ground is not federal responsibility, but it is surely federal faults that led to the protest to begin with.
Protest is one thing. Terrorizing a town is another. The federal government didn’t tell the natives to dig a trench in the road, nor did they tell them to knock out the electricity. If they want respect, they should first learn to show some.
I have seen this debate unfolding in several formats, and the anger by residents of caledonia is incredible, but so is the fear. They feel their homes are being threatened by the native protest, and that is why they are lashing out. I am relieved to hear the situation is starting to resolve itself for now.
Garth: I think the military’s dream shopping list over 4 years is larger than you might think, the military has to keep its wishlist close to the chest, if anyone found out how much a military COULD spend with a free hand it would blow minds.
Kyle Olsen, you have transferred blame to the federal government with a speed and eloquence that would make Dalton McGuinty proud.
If this were a matter of protesting, I wouldn’t be worried. We have protests all the time, without fires and violence. If they want to camp out on the land so construction can’t begin, fine. I can even understand the blockade, since the OPP tried to remove them once. But when the gasoline starts pouring, it’s gone too far.
As I understand it, there was some kind of a “deal” 200 years ago between the natives and the government of the day with respect to this land. Now all these years later, ancestors of the original parties to the contract get to come along and reopen the contract and say, this was not a fair deal. How would our business world operate if we could all reopen old contracts and claim “no fair”, well after the fact.
I shake my head.
I’m sure one of my great-great-great-great-great grandfathers got ripped off somehow, somewhere. Hmmm, I wonder…
Reading this, I share the same thoughts.
This terrorism would not be long tolerated in the States and why the troops have not been sent in is beyond me.
The longer this terrorism is allowed the stand, the weaker my nation’s dear ally will become.
Oh and MP Garth Turner – nice blog!
The credit for the blockade going down should go to the people of Caledonia. As soon as they flexed some muscle the natives smartened up. Now if they want to get Highway 6 open all the OPP have to do is fire a couple of shots at the camper sitting on top of the bridge and watch how soon it opens up. Terrorists only respect force. All David Petersons talking did nothing.
The B of C has raised rates again; prime is now up to 6% just like you had predicted Garth. Given the bank’s accompanying statement, do you still think we are likely to see 6.5% by the end of the year? Any revised thoughts to your prediction?
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060524.wratesup0524/BNStory/Business/home
Too early to tell, since any further hikes will be based on the bank’s analysis of the underlying inflationary pressures, and the value of the Canadian dollar. I beleve the central does not want to raise rates, but another quarter point is probably in the cards over the next few months. In other words, I am eerily close to being absolutelty correct in my prediction of a year ago. — Garth
You’ll do anything to avoid talking about the environment.
First the Finance Minister has the temerity to criticize Ontario’s Finance minister because Ontario has a debt (one that Flaterly is directly responsible for) and now you’re ready to jump on the the provincial gov’t again on the same day they actually have some progress (power lines back up and everyone is back to the negociating table and the blockade is down).
And yesterday you announce a corn growers subsidy and call it an enviromental policy even though it actally puts more, not less GHG into the atmostphere. Oil takes 22k BTUs/gallon to produce and contains 116k BTUs of energy/gallon while a gallon of ethanol takes about 98k BTUs to produce, but has only 76k BTUs of energy.
At this rate, I’ll have to move to Quebec and become a separatist if I want a gov’t that values the enviroment.
How many more generations of natives will we have to pay for for stealing their land as theyu claim? I was born here and have not stolen any land from anyone. How do they figure that they have title to the land. If it was not Europeans coming here 200 years ago inevitably someone else would have come here and not have been as friendly with them. The natives have a very good oppertunity to better themselves and get into the workforce. My friend is metis and he gets free education if he desires to go to univercity. How much more then that do they need.
There are many things I don’t understand about our relationship with the “Native People”,and I just don’t get the ongoing and neverending land claims.
Europeans started coming over here in earnest during the 1600′s (Jamestown Viriginia is 400 years old next year). North America was somewhat sparsely occupied by a society that was on the whole fairly nomadic.
We have been here for 400 years, and what happened 200 or 300 or 400 years ago is history; we shouldn’t be trying to settle grievances that are that old.
Hell, I’m pretty sure that the Anglo-Saxons aren’t still dickering with the Picts over England. And hey, I might have been King over there anyway if it wasn’t for the damn Tudors destroying my family.
We live in a society that has done a reasonably good job of absorbing English, Irish, French, German, Italian, Indian, Chinese, Pakistani, and on and on, immigrants to be productive members of a damn find country called Canada.
Why in the last 200 years have we not been able to get our own “native” population to ‘immigrate’ and become productive members of a very diverse community? Why do so many ‘natives’ feel disenfranchised and live in poverty?
I say get rid of all this talk about land claims and reparations, and open a Canadian Immigration Centre.
I’m curious about the Bank of Canada. If the major banks post record breaking profits every quarter and they get their money from the Bank of Canada, does the B of C also make record profits every quarter?
How does it work?
So many people in Caledonia being mistreated by their own government in favour of terrorists. It does not matter that they are ‘native’. They have terrorized the town and it’s citizens and the law that civilized societies rely on to keep the peace and enforce the laws have done nothing at all to do their jobs.
If Ipperwash is so close to their psyche as to prevent them from doing their jobs they should resign their positions and make way for those who know what their duties are. Dalton could do the same if he had any integrity!
It was my understanding that this ‘land claim’ was settled to the satisfaction of all parties UNTIL some ‘outside influences’ in the Native community showed up. That’s when things got testy.
For whatever reason the terrorists refused to obey the law, it is moot. Lawbreakers must be dealt wih the moment it happens or the terrorists take inaction as a sign of victory and continue their harrassment.
Who has sufered from the inaction of the
police and government? The very people whose taxes pay for their services.
The natives recognize no law bu their own. And we have paid billions and are to pay billions more.
This attitude and tactic will be the rending of this country if something is not done. We must be all equal in the eyes of the law (for to have it otherwise is to have anarchy.)
You can learn more about the proclamation here. — Garth
Hi Garth,
I’d like to know why interest rate increases affects those of us who already have mortgages or loans? I mean, we borrow at a certain rate… isn’t it lowballing to be changing the price on us every 2 months? Isn’t lowballing illegal? I don’t fully understand how the central bank works but I can’t figure out why when they raise the cost of borrowing it’s not only the price of NEW borrowing that’s increased. So they want to slow down the economy, that’s great… but isn’t there a better way to do that than increasing the crushing mortgage load so many people are carrying?
Thanks for giving us average Canucks a voice.
Kevin
It only afects you if you have a VRM – variable rate mortgage – which fluctuates with the prime rate. Some VRMs have static paymnts, so when rates rise your payment retires less debt and pays more interest, while others adjust payments higher.
Yes, this is irritating, but it is part of the risk you take with a VRM, since you are paying an overall lower rate than if you opted for a fixed rate mortgage which is static for (typically) five years. In that instance, the bank takes the risk, but charges you more in interest to cover it.
Rest assured, if you have a VRM you are still substantial money ahead of what you would have been paying to lock in. Also, the rate increases appear to be coming to an end. That statement is supported by this story. Thanks for your supportive words! — Garth
yet the native terrorist
I’m shocked that you would publish this, Garth, without condemning this type of repulsive and immoral language.
This is a censor-free discussion zone when it comes to ideas or opinions. Should I only publish words I agree with? — Garth
no, you should only publish words that the mighty Robert McClelland agrees with.
Yeesh – if you gave yourself the freedom to edit offensive entries, we wouldn’t know Robert McClelland’s name.
Robert,
The language is certainly inflammatory, and I have not heard that any roadside bombs have gone off, but some people may indeed feel ‘terrorized’ when their roads are blockaded and source of power is destroyed.
Perhaps we need a description somewhere between ‘protestor’ and ‘terrorist’.
I think it is repulsive and immoral that someone would attempt to willfully destroy a transformer station. That could put some people’s lives in to danger, couldn’t it?
I am surprised it took this long for someone to mention the use of the word “terrorist” to describe our aboriginal peoples on this blog. Are people really willing to compare blockading a road (thereby forcing people to drive a little bit out of their way) to flying planes into the World Trade Center???
I am all for free speech, but the words written here today border on the spread of hatred, and at the very least, exemplify the purest form of ignorance.
After years of treating them like children, it’s time we let them grow up and take some responsibility for themselves.
for this gang – do as you would with a misbehaving child …
- cut the endless flow of funds ! If these jokers had to hold a job to support themselves, they wouldn’t have time to destroy our environment. They feign concern for nature, how many among us is purposely setting those car-tire fires?
- Make them pay taxes: like real adults – maybe they wouldn’t be so fast to destroy our roads.
and finally – make them accountable for their actions.
Ed:
We already have a word that fits comfortably between ‘protestor’ and ‘terrorist.’ The word is “criminal.”
It is disappointing to see that you have outed yourself as a socialist. And here I thought you only supported intelligent spending. “Enough to bail out all those floundering farmers.”
Why not just pile a couple billion dollars up and burn it?
Why don’t you try eating it? — Garth
Robert M,
How would you feel if a sick loved lived in that area and had their hydro cut off through vandalization? And they needed hydro for support needs? These sick people didn’t do anything to these “natives”. Yet they are living in fear that their oxygen or monitors will not work. Would it not be called terrorism?
Shame on them. Most of these people in that area settled there decades or even century later. They don’t owe squat to these “natives”.
I think the Indians have just about lost all their currency with the average Canadian.
While they have been screwed at times,we have also spent bllions on them and there is no return on the spending.We have created economic reliance for them.
It’s time they became Canadians,subject to the same treatment,ie,they go to jail when they behave like they have in Caledonia.This should have beeen settled by the courts before a shovel went into the ground.
We should only have a Native Affairs cabinet post for ten more years with the goal to make them self sufficient.Enough of the molly coddling.
Too bad Mike Harris isn’t running the show here in Ontario anymore. He took care of the indian problem in Ipperwash with an iron fist, which was exactly what was needed. Time for McGuinty to lay down the law and teach these indians a good lesson in civil obedience!
Good job today Garth on Duffy. Thanks.
I would love to see the total amount of money we spend per year and since the signing of the treaties on native related issues. I would then like to see a census of the total Native population. Then use some simple math to calculate total money spent by the federal government per native in Canada.
I suspect the total dollars involved would freak out a lot of tax payers.
“Why in the last 200 years have we not been able to get our own “native†population to ‘immigrate’ and become productive members of a very diverse community? Why do so many ‘natives’ feel disenfranchised and live in poverty?”
Yea and imagine Ed, 10 billion dollars a year on native affairs…….lets all say it together…10 billion dollars a year……no one has the guts to deal with this problem…..Handouts create dependency!
Although the mess in Caledonia was most disturbing to watch, it’s great to see the fists fly here on Garth’s blog. Some of the folks make some great points, and I feel, have some valid beefs. Ed B’s comments really made me think and it was great to hear from our good neighbour Josef from the States. I would however, like to hear from some First Nations people on this issue. If your out there reading this, please take the time to comment. I also urge Garth to forward this blog entry, along with the comments listed above, to a community leader at the Six Nations in Caledonia and allow them to respond on his website. I feel that it would be the right thing to do.
I just remebered. Apparently, I’m 1/16th native (on my Mom’s side). Where do I go to cash in…er…I mean have my cultural identity recognized?
I too would like to see the official numbers for how much federal funding is provided per native. I’ve seen some numbers, but I don’t trust my sources so i won’t repeat them here.
Christina Blizzard’s column in today’s Toronto Sun was “Time to send the troops.” Secondary caption, “The Caledonia dispute is far from over and mob rule isn’t the answer.”
I am in total agreement with the above–in fact the army should have been sent in ASAP after the barricades went up. If a few native thugs died in the process–tough, they were breaking the law and brought the consequences on themselves.
All I know is if “someone” “vandalized” a power line in my area and my two year old could not have cooked food and my 7 month pregnant wife could not be comfortable fot this amount of time I would be very upset.
And by the way Paul M is my brother and i am also 1/16th native indian and I still think they are way out of line.
And by the way..I am the handsome brother…
Why is it some people get benefits from the federal governemnt because of the blood that flows in their veins? Are they better than me? Did their ancestors have a harder life than mine (my paternal ancestors were practically slaves of the Ottoman empire)?
I was raised to call that racism.
That’s not what Mom told me yesterday Jonathan.
This is a censor-free discussion zone when it comes to ideas or opinions. Should I only publish words I agree with? — Garth
Nice try, Garth, but read what I wrote again. Here, I’ll repost it for you.
I’m shocked that you would publish this, Garth, without condemning this type of repulsive and immoral language.
Robert, I find some of the things you say to be “repulsive and immoral”. You don’t see me saying you should be censored.
Some of the folks make some great points, and I feel, have some valid beefs. Ed B’s comments really made me think…
Andrew,
It is good to think…
The mistake we have made is that we created ‘reserves’ (or are they gulags or ghettos?) instead of assimilating these people.
Toronto prides itself in being one of the most multi-cultural cities in the world with something like 100+ different ethnic groups. For the most part, all these people have come in and blended with everyone else and become productive members of society.
I am serious that we should be looking at our ‘native’ citizens and saying why haven’t you done what every other ethnic group has done?
I wish someone would stand up, take the bull by the horns, and cut the crap. Forget this “It’s our land…” crap. It isn’t yours, it belongs to all of us. The natives are not a separate country within Canada, they are Canadians just as I am. Now lets create a budget, spread over 10 years, to get the ‘natives’ to ‘immigrate’ to Canada. At the end of 10 years, no more of this nnonsense…
wHY WOULD THE mINISTER RESPONSIBLE ELECT bARBARA mCdOUGALL AND jANE aLEXANDER TO NEGOTIATE? wHAT DOES he DO FOR A LIVING?
I see there’s still no condemnation of the language in the email you’ve posted. Then I’m forced to conclude that you agree with the sentiment that Aboriginal Canadians are terrorists.
First off there was a complete list of proof of those who attended Residential Schools, it was a long and painstaking task. Let’s not forget what the survivors endured (rape, torture, removal from families and culture). They’re still pullin down old Residential Schools to this day and finding fetuses buried in walls. The actual $ amount that each individual recieves is not that much, there is a baseline of a couple of thousand dollars and it increases depening how many years one attended the torture chambers.
As for Caledonia, is it no wonder??? It started as a peaceful protest but the OPP and RCMP had emptied jail cells and cleared a hospital ward from the inception. The OPP went in, this is called provocation.
Why? Because politicians are not bothering to read the law and adhere to the law. If due court process had ever been followed we find The Rule of Law on the side of the natives. Land claims have always used dicta (opinion) rather then Rule of Law.
Things may change now that Judge Clarence Thomas in the States has agreed that Rule of Law applies to Native issues and claims and sovereign issues must be viewed that way.
In short, Canada has dispelled itself from it’s own legal system. So after a few centuries of Canada not following it’s own laws, we have protests….it’s a big ‘well duh’.
The inconvenience of Caledonians who are legally on native territory pales compared to the injustices Six Nations and other native nations have gone through.
If anything, politicians should be pressured to have Canada comply with it’s own laws, including the one that states all negotiations between government and natives must involve a third, outside, international party (the U.N. for example, Britain could be considered too).
So yes , by all means let’s end things and grant territories and sovereignty because if we stay on the same tract, at the rate our tax money is going to court proceedings that don’t follow law, our children’s children will still be paying for our mistakes. Haven’t we and don’t we still pay enough for our forefather’s and current government’s mistakes?
My middle class pocket book aches from the continued disobedience of federal and provincial politics.
“Are people really willing to compare blockading a road (thereby forcing people to drive a little bit out of their way) to flying planes into the World Trade Center???”
Damaging and disrupting the power system….assaulting police officers dragging an older couple from their van….hiding and protecting individuals responsible for the attacks and those breaking the law. “terrorism” is not much of a stretch in my book.
Why are natives in combat pants covering their faces all while burning transformers and being a general public nuisance??? Go through the legal channels. The biggest racists are the natives because its all the “white” mans fault. By no means am I saying the native groups are completely to blame but come on. Enough is enough.
Quite frankly though I would be all for a counter protest movement on the reservations. Amass a few bus loads of people and set up blockades on native lands to disrupt day to day life during “Caledon” like incidents.