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Dead Constitution See other Dead Constitution Articles Title: Caledonia protest will lead to violence, politicians warn Caledonia protest will lead to violence, politicians warn April Lindgren, CanWest News Service Published: Wednesday, October 11, 2006 TORONTO - Ontario politicians of all political stripes are warning of a violent clash Sunday if a proposed march on lands now occupied by native protesters in Caledonia, Ont., goes ahead. ''I'm not sure who thinks this rally is a good idea,'' Premier Dalton McGuinty said Tuesday when asked about the march being organized by a Toronto-area couple to protest what they say is ''two-tier justice.'' ''The people of Caledonia don't think it's a good idea. I certainly don't think it's a good idea. The OPP (provincial police) don't think it's a good idea. The opposition here at Queen's Park don't think it's a good idea. Given that consensus, the best thing would be not to proceed with the rally.'' Conservative Leader John Tory wrote to march organizer Gary McHale earlier this month, urging him to move the protest to another site to avoid conflict. ''I think for him to go anywhere near that land is not right,'' Tory said Tuesday. ''We should probably all redouble our efforts to try and convince Mr. McHale that this is just not the responsible thing to do.'' NDP Leader Howard Hampton said the McGuinty government should seek an injunction limiting the number of people and the location for any march. ''It's potentially dangerous, it would not be constructive and it shouldn't happen (on the disputed lands),'' he said. But McHale, who runs a computer accounting and website service in Richmond Hill, Ont., brushed aside all concerns and vowed to march onto the land that was once slated for a housing development but has since been purchased by the provincial government. ''As far as the potential for violence, we're there for peace,'' he told CanWest News Service. ''If these politicians are publicly saying that they are worried about violence, then it's time for them to review the Ontario provincial police and realize that the OPP has absolutely failed to ensure public safety in Caledonia.'' McHale said he hopes Ontarians will be galvanized into protesting what he sees as police unwillingness to enforce the law against Six Nations activists who have occupied the Douglas Creek Estates land since last winter. Six Nations officials have already asked the province to stop the rally. ''I hope the media will be present (Sunday), that the average citizen will be there to see first hand OPP in full riot gear stopping one group from entering Douglas Creek land for one reason only, because of their race. ''I'm crystal clear in saying that we are going to march onto Douglas Creek land. Taxpayers have spent $20 million to buy this land, it's provincial land, everybody in Ontario has the right to be on that land.'' McHale, who with his wife set up the group Caledonia Wake Up Call, said if anyone is injured or killed in clashes with native protesters it won't be his fault. ''It's up to the police to ensure public safety. I have a right according to the constitution to have a public meeting. That's what we're doing. If the police can't ensure safety, then maybe it's time to replace the police.'' The Ontario Realty Corp., which administers the Caledonia lands on behalf of the province, informed McHale in an Oct. 4 letter that it ''does not consent to your use or entry upon the Douglas Creek Estate lands as these lands are not open to the public where entry could create a safety risk.'' In a bid to diffuse tensions in Caledonia, the government purchased the disputed land earlier this summer and is holding it in trust until the land claims issue can be settled with the Six Nations. The government has allowed native protesters to remain on the site. Former Ontario premier David Peterson, appointed by the province to negotiate an end to the land dispute, suggested last month the planned march is the work of wackos. ''There are a lot of wackos in society,'' he said. ''It's important not to give them too much credibility.''
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