Lastest comment posted at 9:22 PM EDT 11/06/06

Ontario police seek arrest warrants after Caledonia violence

Canadian Press

Seven people are being sought after tense clashes at native blockade

  1. Barry Puskas from Wallaceburg, Ont, Canada writes: Anyone want to bet that no warrants will ever be issued?
    • Posted 10/06/06 at 3:37 PM EDT |
       
  2. The Objectivist from Toronto, Canada writes: why aren't they all the lawless barricaders arrested months ago? oh i forget, our government determines how it treats you based on your race. What an embarrassment, its like someone you know does something really shameful, and you just want to disassociate yourself from them. that's how many Canadians feel about justice dispensed based on race, simply shameful. Even if the warrants are against the natives (the article is suggests but is ambiguous), I've recently read in the G&M that there are special practices for convicting and sentencing natives such that its a revolving door without jail time in any event. We are all equal, but some are more equal than others...not exactly the Canada that I want to be a part of. We need to stop carving natives out of Canada and treat them the same as all citizens
    • Posted 10/06/06 at 4:00 PM EDT |
       
  3. Vince Higgins from Bath, Ontario, Canada writes: It looks like the OPP and the Provincial Government will never act against lawlessness on the part of aboriginals. McGuiny will probably never learn that, when you try to make everyone happy, you make no one happy.
    • Posted 10/06/06 at 4:00 PM EDT |
       
  4. Josch R from Toronto, Canada writes: shame on our provincial police for standing by iddle, while those men were attacked.
    • Posted 10/06/06 at 4:25 PM EDT |
       
  5. PJ Casey Jardine from The West, Canada writes: When is our country going to start treating each Canadian equal no matter what race they are. I know the aboriginals feel that they have their own laws and do not abide by the Canadian legal system but there has been an order to stop this protest by a judge and the OPP has done nothing in this matter. For an OPP officer to stand by and watch a news media person be assulted by a native protestor is absolutely disgraceful. They do not have the skills to be a office of the peace. These OPP officers should be investigated by their superiors but it could be they are native OPP officers. I am sure that would make a difference. If you are in Canada start being a Canadian and stop all this nation within a nation BS.
    • Posted 10/06/06 at 4:44 PM EDT |
       
  6. I Rate from Okadonia, Canada writes: If they had really intended to charge the protesters for assaulting the camera men, they would have done it while it was happening right before their eyes. Let's not forget what the camera men were attempting to film-several protesters who had surrounded and were jumping on the car of a senior couple from Simcoe. The OPP weren't exactly coming to their rescue either. Since Ipperwash, they are afraid to do anything.
    • Posted 10/06/06 at 4:53 PM EDT |
       
  7. Paul Jones from Victoria, Canada writes: The violence is a direct result of police inaction. The longer lawlessness is allowed, the more likely the violence will increase.
    • Posted 10/06/06 at 4:54 PM EDT |
       
  8. John Lord from Vancouver, Canada writes: Even if caught, the case will end up in the Supreme Court of Canada and they will divine an inherent right of first nations to conk people over the head. What a farce.
    • Posted 10/06/06 at 5:08 PM EDT |
       
  9. Lou Thesz from Brampton, Canada writes: I regret immigrating to this country every time I read crap like this. Sooner my wife gets a permit the sooner I can leave. Unless this country is willing to stand up to the barbaric actions of a select few, it will never advacne further than what it has.
    • Posted 10/06/06 at 5:11 PM EDT |
       
  10. jay thomas from Toronto, Canada writes: Is it time to repleace the OPP with a police force that will enforce the law?
    • Posted 10/06/06 at 5:18 PM EDT |
       
  11. tristan markle from vancouver, Canada writes: you all really think that white riotters will go to jail, and that aboriginals won't? i would like to make a bet on that one. give me a break. also, the 'rule of law' does not mean that police should fill the prisons with aboriginals; indeed, let this case go to court, and indeed let the courts decide whether the six nations had given up title to this land, and whether the sale of the land was indeed lawful. aboriginals win almost every land claim case because their claims are backed up by legal rights. we will see.
    • Posted 10/06/06 at 5:38 PM EDT |
       
  12. Greg Baranuik from Canada writes: Hey Dalton, END THIS NOW. Cops are getting pushed around now, it has to stop.
    • Posted 10/06/06 at 5:40 PM EDT |
       
  13. stubborn ox from belleville, Canada writes: the right to peaceful protest is one thing.. that's guarenteed as part of our democracy.. however once it turns violent the peaceful protest protection ends.. if the people running the blockade use violence against innocent civilians the OPP should take bulldozers and simply drive through the baracade, knock it over and remove it.. if the protest get violent then arrest them.. I was on the natives side in the sense that it's your right to protest in our country and over the course of history they have been traditionally screwed by the government.. however if they resort to violence then so should the police to put a permenant end to this situation..
    • Posted 10/06/06 at 5:45 PM EDT |
       
  14. John Laws from Alberta, Canada writes: # 10 Jay, before you have a police force that will enforce the law you have to have a provincal government that will enforce the law and back the men and women who are charged with enforcing the law. This situation is a direct result of Oka. If the government had stepped in there and run down the lawbreakers then this would not have happened nor would any of the other blockades and lawlessness the natives feel they have a right to perpetuate. It will never stop until you have a strong government that will back a crackdown by the police and let the natives know that lawlessness is not acceptable.
    • Posted 10/06/06 at 6:00 PM EDT |
       
  15. Robert Boyd from Windsor, Canada writes: Wally Peepers is angry.What's next?Grow himself a back bone?
    • Posted 10/06/06 at 6:18 PM EDT |
       
  16. Kim Morton from Sayward B.C., Canada writes: PM Harper has different views on law and order than the rest of us. If you are a gay wanting to get married---go to jail. If you are a pot smoker---go to jail. If you are a native and want to protest people working or want to destroy other peoples property you are protected.
    • Posted 10/06/06 at 6:33 PM EDT |
       
  17. Al , from Halifax, Canada writes: It’s time to bring home our soldiers from Afghanistan and deal with our home grown insurrection.
    • Posted 10/06/06 at 6:35 PM EDT |
       
  18. Queen Street from Toronto, Canada writes: Seems like everyone around would like the Police and the Provincial Government responding to all acts of provocation with the same 'lawlessness' the provocateurs are using. While a period of negotiation is open, tolerance is a must. With time, tolerance became a powerful negotiation tool, mostly if negotiations are aimed to a peaceful resolution.
    • Posted 10/06/06 at 7:23 PM EDT |
       
  19. B Dayle from Charlottetown, Canada writes: Take the land and build a federal prison on it. All those who break the law in pursuit of the land should then be placed into it. With charges pending like Assault and Attempted murder, some people may get a chance to spend 25 years to life on the land.
    • Posted 10/06/06 at 7:46 PM EDT |
       
  20. Jack Patterson from Canada, Canada writes: We should replace the OPP with Native Police. Then something would get done...
    • Posted 10/06/06 at 7:54 PM EDT |
       
  21. bill mcdonald from Canada writes: McGuinty says he wants a peaceful solution. The only way it will be peaceful is by giving in to what the natives demand. I'd be willing to bet nothing will be done even if they do arrest the seven natives. Ipperwash is too fresh in the minds of all government and O.P.P. officers.
    • Posted 10/06/06 at 8:00 PM EDT |
       
  22. Gardiner Westbound from Toronto, Canada writes: McGuinty made political hay out of the Ipperwash incident for 10-years while the OPP twisted in the wind. His myopic opportunism has paralyzed the police.
    • Posted 10/06/06 at 8:14 PM EDT |
       
  23. Non-hyphenated Canadian from Burlington, Canada writes: If the OPP won't do the job, call in the Army. It's time we had an election in this province.
    • Posted 10/06/06 at 8:37 PM EDT |
       
  24. Neil W. Humphrey from vancouver, Canada writes: OPP = Only Passive Police
    • Posted 10/06/06 at 8:48 PM EDT |
       
  25. T Miller from Hagersville, Canada writes: I have lived 10 min away from Caledonia my whole life. To see what is happening with the police makes me sick. I am now scared to live where I am, I am scared for my friends that live in Caledonia. Late Friday night, 200-300 Natives were throwing rocks at the white people and what did the police do? Nothing to the natives, but when a white man picked up a stone, the police would jump all over them and arrest them. I DO NOT feel safe anymore. I want this to end; I want the government to stand up and do their job and stop treating this issue as a back burner. I want the police to figure out what they are doing, WHO they are protecting. How can an OPP officer feel good about him/herself to watch an assault happen right before them and not do anything? I have lost all trust in the OPP officers as well as our government. I just wonder how our Country got to this.
    • Posted 10/06/06 at 9:03 PM EDT |
       
  26. david toynbee from nanaimo.bc, Canada writes: But remember that in the Canadian justice system it is very difficult for the police to get a conviction on anything and certainly never on the exercise of individual rights. Any good Charter lawyer can get all the charges thrown out for both sides in this dispute. And so the police all over Canada have to wait until a major and indisputable crime is committed before they can make an effective arrest which will stand up in our law courts against the extensive individual rights that are entrenched in our Charter. This means that in a situation where two nations with different laws are involved ( Caledonia ) an arrest can only be made where a crime has been committed that is recognised by both nations. An illegal death might be recognised by both nations and lead to an arrest by police but it's a tough justice system that waits for major loss before it deems a crime to have been committed. Don't blame the police, they're just tired of rejection. Blame ourselves for having elected over the years a series of left wing liberal leaders who's idea on justice is to placate the criminal often enough and they'll eventually become rich and satisfied, pay their taxes and become regular gals and guys. Dave Toynbee.
    • Posted 10/06/06 at 9:33 PM EDT |
       
  27. Geoff Eby from Toronto, Canada writes: This is a no-win situation for the police and I feel for them. If they arrest the native protesters, this becomes an issue of civil rights, rather than a criminal prosecution as it should be. If the police fail to act, innocent law-abiding citizens get hurt. The most astonishing thing to me is that natives take pride in acting as ignorant thugs. Sooner or later, the majority of Canadians will stop feeling pity for native protesters and recognize them for what they are: petty criminals with a sense of self-importance that is out of all proportion with reality.
    • Posted 10/06/06 at 9:54 PM EDT |
       
  28. I Cincinnatus from Bloomfield Ontario, Canada writes: The citizens of Caledonia should adopt the ways, means and dress of the natives. Then in a conflict neither side would get charged. Trying to follow laws that are not upheld by the provincial government is like pushing on a rope. Instead, play on an even playing field by adopting the same stance, habits, culture, dress and tactics and oral history justification as the natives. Then the majority will rule as it should. This can be done peacefully or otherwise.
    • Posted 10/06/06 at 10:07 PM EDT |
       
  29. Slippery Slope from Canada writes: What the heck was a US Border Patrol vehicle doing in Canada?
    • Posted 10/06/06 at 10:15 PM EDT |
       
  30. Saleem Farooqi from Toronto, writes: Why would they arrest some one there? There is no violence in the world as long as there is no Muslim involved.
    • Posted 10/06/06 at 10:51 PM EDT |
       
  31. Joe Average from Toronto, Canada writes: Please police, arrest the perps and treat everyone equally. This is shameful. Govt, please give the police everything they need to do their job - a lot is riding on this!!!
    • Posted 10/06/06 at 11:44 PM EDT |
       
  32. tony d from toronto, Canada writes: everyone in Ontario knows what to do in next provincial election, vote this incompetent government out!!!! I'm a liberal myself, but this goverment is the most incompetent, uncapable, idiotic, shameless government I've ever seen. Canada is a great country but right now is lacking true leaders, and this becomes so obvious when you travel and visit other industrialized countries. For this to be dragging on for so long in Caledonia is really disgusting. The OPP has shown that it's not capable to protect the citizens of this province. Appalling!!! Only in Canada!!
    • Posted 11/06/06 at 1:45 AM EDT |
       
  33. h rico from Hamilton, Canada writes: There have been some good posts made here. #26 mentions two nations with different laws? Is that a joke? I agree that anyone has the right to peaceful protest but not if they infringe on the rights of others. This has clearly happened, so why has our spineless provincial government / OPP done nothing at all about it? The charges pending are for serious crimes that have been committed. The entire protest should have already been deemed to be illegal. They should now be given 12 hours notice to clear out. If they refuse, then the army should be sent in to remove them by force. I also agree completely with #27, but I believe that the majority of Canadians already have stopped feeling pity for native protesters, and already do see them as the ignorant thugs they are. No one seems to report on what this protest is really about or exactly what is at stake here. So let me guess... it's really about tax money, right? If the protesters are successful, then millions of dollars in annual tax revenue will go to them instead of the provincial government. And this would be a permanent arrangement. Alot of money is at stake here, so why shouldn't they act like thugs now, if it only furthers their cause? Especially since they are already above the law and seem to be able to get away with just about anything?
    • Posted 11/06/06 at 2:27 AM EDT |
       
  34. Tobias Funke from Calgary, Canada writes: This should be the last straw! Disgusting that is has been allowed to go on this far. These natives are guilty of nothing less than acts of terrorism. If the OPP will not act Harper should send in the JTF2 to take whatever measures necessary.
    • Posted 11/06/06 at 4:35 AM EDT |
       
  35. Gaber Lightning from Ottawa, Canada writes: Is the mayor and OPP comissioner joking when they said that they can't believe the officers on the scene stood idlely by? Do they live in a bubble? I think that every altercation I have been in and every altercation I have witnessed where the police have been there, they stood idlely by. They always wait until it is over and then make arrests. Its been so bad before that one time (in Hamilton) this guy stabbed me and was trying to kill me, I ran into the police station, the guy stopped at the front door and waited outside, I was bleeding like crazy and I told the cop at the desk that this guy did this and he is outside right now.... the cop ignored me. After a moment of him ignoring everything I said and asking for a first aid kit, I had to walk behind the counter and yell at him and tell him I would find a first aid kit myself, then a supervisor finally came out and asked what was going on.
    • Posted 11/06/06 at 5:21 AM EDT |
       
  36. Rick M from Toronto, Canada writes: Anyone who has the means to assist someone who is being attacked has a moral duty to intervene whether they are wearing a police uniform or not! Land claims legitimate or not are irrelevant. We have laws in this country that are designed for the benefit of everyone including natives. Government and Police: DO YOUR JOB!
    • Posted 11/06/06 at 7:35 AM EDT |
       
  37. Alexander Dryden from Ottawa, Canada writes: McGuinty must resign, now.
    • Posted 11/06/06 at 7:59 AM EDT |
       
  38. RGW SCO from Canada writes: Too little.............too late! If non-natives had blocked roads, blocked train lines and damaged power lines, they would have been arrested and put in jail months ago. Political correctness be damned! The present government obviously lacks courage in this crisis.
    • Posted 11/06/06 at 8:34 AM EDT |
       
  39. Deanna St.Croix from Toronto, Canada writes: You all do realize that all of this land was stolen from the First Nations people right? You all do understand the concept of 'First Nations'? correct? It wouldn't seem so, judging by the posts I'm reading. You're just pretty lucky that so much land was swindled from the original people's here, mainly by killing them off but hey, as long as these little facts don't bother you, continue to complain how the 'majority' are getting the short end of the stick consistently. What a joke. Canada certainly has become a hot bed of racism.
    • Posted 11/06/06 at 8:43 AM EDT |
       
  40. jiri z from Canada writes: Big black mark for all the star players: aboriginal troublemakers, Ontario government, OPP. The longer this farce goes on, the more Canadians will drop their support for the aboriginals - in this and every other case. Similar to the 17 fertilizer gangsters from Toronto. They also turned public opinion (those who still needed turning!) against the Muslim extremists.
    • Posted 11/06/06 at 8:43 AM EDT |
       
  41. John Thomson from London, Canada writes: The whole scenario at Caledonia is an example of what happens when there is a lack of effective leadership. Dalton never inspired me as a leader when running for office, and this is being demonstrated now. I would like to see a plan of action presented to the people of Ontario detailing what actions are planned and what directives are being issued to our police forces to resolve this deplorable situation.
    • Posted 11/06/06 at 8:51 AM EDT |
       
  42. Pragmatic Pundit from Canada writes: Under Mike Harris the situation was dealt with quickly and decisively. Anyone see a pattern here of how liberals vs. Conservatives deal with all issues?
    • Posted 11/06/06 at 9:07 AM EDT |
       
  43. P H from Canada writes: I'm not sure how, and I'm not sure if I can prove it but am absolutly positive that somehow Mike Harris and PM Harper are to blame for this situation. I'm also 100% confident that given another six months or maybe a year, the natural governing party of Canada will definately, probably, hopefully come up with a solution to this issue, that I am sure is somehow or another related to Bush. I love it when McQuinty gets angry and stamps his feet, group hug everyone, can't we just all get along.
    • Posted 11/06/06 at 9:21 AM EDT |
       
  44. Gord Cee from Canada writes: Obviously there is one law for the Indians and another for the rest of us. If government, police and local citizens don't show some backbone here indians will become progressively bolder and commit more and more lawless acts knowing the authorities, guided by the loony left, will stand by and do nothing
    • Posted 11/06/06 at 9:56 AM EDT |
       
  45. Mitch Gullison from Fredericton, Canada writes: It is time to end the double standard. Violence should not be tolerated by anyone.
    • Posted 11/06/06 at 10:00 AM EDT |
       
  46. S Boatright from Canada writes: I think that the non-native citizens of Caledonia, and the Hamilton TV crew, should initiate a class action lawsuit against the First Nations, the OPP and the Ontario Provincial Government. It's pretty clear that basic civil rights have been denied here. I also think it's time that the Federal government step in and deal with this - the Ontario provincial government is clearly not going to take action until someone gets killed. That is inexcusable - enforce the law.
    • Posted 11/06/06 at 10:05 AM EDT |
       
  47. Jeff Martin from Owen Sound, Canada writes: It's time for the OPP to uphold the rule of law and remove those Indians. If they won't do it, then bring in the army!
    • Posted 11/06/06 at 10:37 AM EDT |
       
  48. john a gunn from key west, United States writes: as a retired senior from Newmarket one wonders when the american cloning will end, the prime minister receives advice from a Bush spinmaster, our defence in the control by american headquarters in Colorado, our local balloonmaster providing overhead security for Homeland Security, and now american border patrol meddling in our indian affairs......Martin left the nation prosperous, now the citizens want a leadership the likes of the Weasle in the White House...put Brenda in an OPP car.
    • Posted 11/06/06 at 10:42 AM EDT |
       
  49. j b from Hamilton, Canada writes: So, let me get this straight.... the indians pay no taxes but receive government handouts, yet are allowed to do anything at all, including assault, destroy and murder. We White folks pay taxes yet are offered absolutely no protection whatsoever? Great country we live in! There wouldn't be a problem if Conservative Mike Harris were running things folks! Blame those who voted for mscquinty.
    • Posted 11/06/06 at 11:09 AM EDT |
       
  50. B Johnson from Canada writes: #29 Good point. And what is an OPP officer doing in a US border patrol vehicle? To all those who would like to attack the natives for protecting their lands at Caledonia, ask yourself what monies are at stake here. The land developer was given a license to develop the area worth 45 million dollars. Who granted that permit and why? Someone wanted a cut of that 45 million would be my guess. Then the spinoff monies for the clearing of the land (we can't have trees afterall), the construction of new homes, and the lucrative real estate deals. I would say someone stood to get very rich by granting the permit wouldn't you? As for the comment about Oka ... that was for an extension of a golf course onto sacred burial grounds (the pines). I believe that when it all came out in court, the mayor of Oka was convicted of fraud.
    • Posted 11/06/06 at 12:02 PM EDT |
       
  51. Neo Conservative from Canada writes: 'the 'rule of law' does not mean that police should fill the prisons with aboriginals' *** The aboriginals have done a pretty good job of that themselves... I believe the politically correct term is 'over-represented in correctional institutions' and the legal system is falling all over itself to try ameliorate the problem.
    • Posted 11/06/06 at 12:08 PM EDT |
       
  52. Diane Schweik from EDMONTON, Canada writes: To all the goody-goodies who think our armed forces should be peacekeepers,here is a golden opportunity in our own backyard.I don't think we should blame the OPP as they are no doubt acting under orders from Queen's Park.The politicians are as spineless in this as they are in everything else.
    • Posted 11/06/06 at 12:12 PM EDT |
       
  53. B Johnson from Canada writes: Follow the money folks.
    • Posted 11/06/06 at 12:18 PM EDT |
       
  54. John Galt from Canada writes: #16 Kim Morton, it is in the juresdiction of the OPP and the Ontario provincial government that this protest is happening. It is NOT the PM's job to handle this situation. It is the Premier's job.
    • Posted 11/06/06 at 12:35 PM EDT |
       
  55. Jim Cruickshank from Farmington Hills, MI, Canada writes: Slippery Slope#29, the US Border Patrol was there so that the OPP could demonstrate to them how to handle these situations. Guess we really showed them this time, eh? Thank you natives and OPP for the international black-eye on this one.
    • Posted 11/06/06 at 12:48 PM EDT |
       
  56. The Real P S from Toronto, Canada writes: Hey Queen Street (#18) so far the 'tolerance' has resulted in one older gentleman being put in hospital with a heart attack. How many more people have to suffer / die because of the tolerance shown to these thugs? It is only a question of time before somebody dies in this fiasco. MPP's DO YOUR JOB, THIS IS WHY YOU GET PAID, TO ENSURE LAW AND ORDER, LET THE OPP DO THEIR JOB INSTEAD OF TYING THEIR HANDS
    • Posted 11/06/06 at 1:26 PM EDT |
       
  57. Robert Elvish from thunder(blunder)Bay, Canada writes: as a tax paying, law abiding,fair minded CANADIAN, i have no comment. BOB E.
    • Posted 11/06/06 at 1:29 PM EDT |
       
  58. Alistair McLaughlin from Ottawa, Canada writes: If the police move on the protesters to break up the barricades, the protesters will resist. Inevitably, shots will be fired, and someone will be killed. If that happens, how will McGuinty continue to flog Mike Harris over Ipperwash? McGuinty is determined to show that he can handle the situation better than Harris. That means NO ACTION will be taken against the "protesters" (criminals?), regardless of how long the standoff continues, or how many people are hurt. McGuinty's reputation is on the line, and that is more important to him than enforcing the law.
    • Posted 11/06/06 at 2:45 PM EDT |
       
  59. Chas Cahill from Ottawa, Canada writes: If the OPP had acted as real police when the illegal activities took place and arrested these hoodlums on the spot..there would be no need for this farce of pretending now that they are looking for them.If the O ntario government and the OPP cannot enforce laws equally in this province then it's time to sack both parties.
    • Posted 11/06/06 at 3:07 PM EDT |
       
  60. Rick M from Toronto, Canada writes: To #39. The issue at hand has nothing to do with land claims or racism. The natives may or may not have a vailid claim. Some people are rasicst, some are not. What has outraged so many Ontarians (notice I didn't say white people?) is the fact that a group of thugs are violationg the law and the rights of law abiding citizens. And our pollice and government are allowing it to happen. Now that's disgusting!
    • Posted 11/06/06 at 3:19 PM EDT |
       
  61. Wendy Charr from Campbell River,BC, writes: Why do you think native people are so angry? Could it possibly have anything to do with the fact that they have been treated like third-class citizens-in their own land- since the British decided they would would take them under their massively paternalistic colonial wing? I am amazed at the ignorance of some of these posters. Everyone talks about themselves as being law-abiding tax payers; believe it or not, so are most natives. #49 states( rather unequivocally) that 'Indians pay no taxes.' This is simply not true. Natives are exempt from paying income tax if they live and work on reserve; however, since a large number of native people have left their reserves (it's kind of hard to find work in Moose Elbow, Northern Ontario, for instance) they pay taxes just like anyone else.As for government handouts:any pittance that might have trickled down the line after the bloated bureaucracy of Indian Affairs is done with it does not even begin to compensate for everything that was stolen from these people.In my opinion the government is doing a good job of turning the massively ignorant Canadian public against the natives by perpetuating these stereotypes and myths. So seven people commit violence (which most people, including Natives, do not condone) and instantly all Natives are branded as being lawlwss and violent. (I'm beginning to understand how the Muslim community must feel.)I think the racist line evidenced by the majority of the posters on this board will only harden the resolve of the native people; after all, being vilified and talked about with contempt is nothing new to them. O Canada, indeed!
    • Posted 11/06/06 at 3:39 PM EDT |
       
  62. D L from Bradon, Canada writes: RE: Deanna St.Croix's comments. haha. your claims of ownership are quite amusing. have you lost touch with reality? This is almost as funny as each time these "sovereign nations" appeal to the courts of this country for rulings on their "sovereignty". The situation in Caledonia is going to provide ample ammunition for a Conservative majority and a repeal of the Indian Act / discontinued INAC funding. The protestors short sightedness has paved the way to this bureaucratic gravy train's nullification.
    • Posted 11/06/06 at 4:11 PM EDT |
       
  63. Victoria Coffin from Canada, Canada writes: I have read the comments and am astonished at the lack of rational debate - a lot of thinly veiled racism. Ask yourself if, despite what many have seemed to think are "special treatment" for Aboriginal people, would you take their place? I imagine most would not. So it seems in Canada, one of the last acceptable outlets for racism: beat up the Aboriginal people. We took their land. Since we took the "shackles" off them, allowing them to vote (in 1960), and to participate in society beyond being "educated" by the residential schools they have tried to find a peaceful way to get a resolution to oft-outstanding claims. Many relate to the British Crown's, and subsequently the Government of Canada's inability to meet its commitments under the treaties that were originally negotiated. In other cases, the lands were "settled" despite it being theirs. At Caledonia, we can see the continuance of this Canadian propensity to barrel ahead. Now in this particular situation, although I do not condone violence, I would pause to wait and find out all that occurred. At Ipperwash, the police said that the violence began by the Aboriginals. We find out later it was the OPP who fired first. We should keep our Canadian level-headedness and wait to hear the whole story. Who knows what really happened.
    • Posted 11/06/06 at 4:20 PM EDT |
       
  64. PJ Casey Jardine from The West, Canada writes: #39 Deanna St. Croix from Toronto. Are you saying that in this world the people that were on the land first are the ones that own the land. Every country in the world was occupied by someone first but they do not act like the native population does when others move in. Why do the natives feel that they own the whole country. We are all Canadians and why can the natives not realize this after hundreds of years and live together as one nation. You are not a nation unto yourself as if you were you would not be getting my tax dollars and all the perks of all that have a bit of native blood in them. I was adopted as a baby and my grandmother was native. No one that I know knows this and I would not tell them. I am a proud, working, taxpayer Canadian and I would not expect anyone other than I to look after me. I am actually ashamed that I may have native blood in my veins. Can a person in Canada get a complete transfusion?
    • Posted 11/06/06 at 4:27 PM EDT |
       
  65. The Objectivist from Toronto, Canada writes: Peaceful protest is fine, and one of our freedoms but that does not carry with the right to break the law, apparently unless you're a native. Forget about waiting until it became violent, the second they blocked another citizen's right to pass through a public thoroughfare, bingo, bring whatever force is necessary to correct the situation. Given that both the courts and the government have official and firmly entrenched racial policies giving a multitude of race based privileges to native Canadians, and the fall out from Ipperwash, I think we are being too hard on the Police - can you blame them when the government uses them as political pawns ? Maybe what's need is reform whereby the police MUST enforce the law regardless of Queens Park's orders, ie if there is a law being broken its not at the Premier's office's descretion as to whether it's enforced or not. Seems like common sense, take a look at other countries where the police are the politician's lap dogs, at their beck and call....not where i want Canada to go. One law, and the Police and courts uphold it blind to race.
    • Posted 11/06/06 at 4:33 PM EDT |
       
  66. S Boatright from Canada writes: To Poster #39 - Deanna - do your homework. The Six Nations have no aboriginal claim on this land. They are Mohawks who immigrated to this country from the U.S. - the land in question was their reward from the Canadian (British) government for fighting against the Americans. They lost - they ran to Canada - and they received the land. They are settlers - no different in my opinion than any of the rest of us in this country. Perhaps in some cases - they have less claim to be aboriginal - as many white folks were here before them.
    • Posted 11/06/06 at 5:24 PM EDT |
       
  67. Albert Robinson from Terrace, BC, Canada writes: First of all, I must ask the editor why my earlier comments I have made are not been approved? And to person number (3), the lawlessness began almost two hundred years ago when your "law-abiding" forefathers reneged on a deal on lands. And to the person who recently emigrated here, go bck to rejoin the barbarians from whence you came. The federal and provincial governments have "eggs in their faces" in terms of action or inaction is concerned. They know if there is negotiated settlement to the dispute then it will set a precedent for all First Nations across Canada. So your representatives on the federal, provincial or even the municipal levels should get off their ample behinds and negotiate a win-win settlement. Why don't you ask them why they are not negotiating in good faith. Where there any charges when a First Nation person was killed in cold blood by a sniper and unarmed at that. The reaction, "Who fired that shot?" And that question was left unanswered for years! Get a grip, Canada!
    • Posted 11/06/06 at 6:10 PM EDT |
       
  68. G. H. from G.T.A., Canada writes: Post 29, Slippery Slope, who cares what they were doing there. Were they doing anything illegal? No. Did they do anything to provoke the aboriginal protesters? No. Did they have a right to be where they were? Yes. Do they have a right not to be attacked and have their property stolen? Yes. This whole thing has been allowed to fester and the longer the government ties the hands of the police, it will only continue to get worse. While their claims may be legititmate, and there is significant debate on that point, the lawless actions of many of the aboriginal protesters cannot be justified, ever! We have courts in this land that are predisposed to ruling in their favour in land claim cases. If they have an issue with a particular decision they know they have the right of appeal all the way to the Supreme Court. By permitting this unlawful riotous assembly to continue, Dalton McGuinty is failing his duties as Premier of the Province of Ontario. If the group of malcontents involved in this behaviour were Muslim, you can be assured the government would not have waited the months they have before taking action. Every last one of them would have been arrested and charged under the terrorrism provisions in the criminal code. The mere fact that after weeks and months of illegal behaviour, that would not be tolerated anywhere else in this country, only serves to demonstrate what spinless cowards politicians have become. The rule of law, as they are so often at pains to remind us, must prevail and it must prevail now! Mr. McGunity, get up and do the right thing - now - before someone dies.
    • Posted 11/06/06 at 6:52 PM EDT |
       
  69. Murray Heath from Iqaluit, Canada writes: Do a Google on the definition of terrorism and you will find this or something similar: "the unlawful use of -- or threatened use of -- force or violence against individuals or property to coerce or intimidate governments or societies, often to achieve political, religious, or ideological objectives." The authorities proved pretty good at foiling it last weekend. Is this situation considered different?
    • Posted 11/06/06 at 7:02 PM EDT |
       
  70. B Dayle from Charlottetown, Canada writes: The Six Nations have about 11,000 people living on a 46,500-acre reserve. That’s 4.23 acres each. They lay claim to 950,000 acres or 86.3 acres each. That’s a lot of TAX FREE land to build new subdivisions on.
    • Posted 11/06/06 at 7:41 PM EDT |
       
  71. John Galt from Canada writes: I just watched a CBC news report where a native spokeswoman was interviewed and she stated that the actions that drew the warrants were political actions and therefore the perpetrators were not subject to criminal prosecution. What hogwash! A note to Dalton M. "Give them an inch, they'll take a mile." These protestors need to be arrested immediately and the OPP have to be given the go ahead to ENFORCE the LAW.
    • Posted 11/06/06 at 9:20 PM EDT |
       
  72. bill mcdonald from Canada writes: I thought all reserves were under the juristiction of the federal government therefore would it not be the military rather than the O.P.P.'s responsibility. I'm sure with the number of O.P.P. that are present they could be more useful patrolling the highways rather than the overtime they are costing taxpayers.
    • Posted 11/06/06 at 9:22 PM EDT |