Monday, June 12, 2006

Caledonia: Fan, meet Sh*t

Ok, maybe NOW something will be done.

For months now (yes, months) members of the First Nations have been blocking a road in Caledonia, Ontario in order to prevent construction on land they claim belongs to them. In some ways it's reminiscent of Oka - and therein lies the problem.

The government doesn't want to touch this with a ten foot pole. They saw how much crap came down on Mike Harris for the Ipperwash scandal and they are very reluctant to deal with this politically sensitive issue.

Dear Dalton McGuinty,

Grow.
Some.
Balls.

Look, this is a very simple issue: either the government is right that the land was given to them back in 1849 or whatever and they have the documentation to prove it or they're dead wrong and should give the land "back".

For some reason, the government hasn't offered any proof the land was handed over to them. Makes'em look kinda guilty, don't it?

So while the government is doing nothing, the local residents are justifiably up in arms and the police are clearly being directed not to get involved. They haven't gotten in the middle of the myriad number of dust-ups that have broken out and recently stood by while a CTV crew was assaulted mere metres away.

Oh, but wait: here's where it gets interesting.

Seems a couple of OPP offices and an American border guard were assaulted the other day.

Oops.

Now the OPP are out for blood, issuing warrants for seven individuals, ranging from "intimidation" to - get this - attempted murder. Seems one of the protesters tried to run down one of the cops.

So what do you think is going to happen when the OPP walk into First Nations territory and try to arrest seven of their buddies?

The government may now have had their hand forced; they may have to do something in order to prevent this from getting way out of hand.

Imagine that: a government actually doing something.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

it's odd how nothing is done until the 'mericans appear...