Ontario appoints Jane Stewart special representative to Caledonia impasse

Former federal Minister Of Indian Affairs and long-time resident Of Brantford

Ontario Secretariat for Aboriginal Affairs
http://www.aboriginalaffairs.osaa.gov.on.ca
May 3, 2006

[SISIS note: The following government press release is provided for reference only, as an example of how the colonial government treats indigenous resistance to genocide. Inclusion of this article on our site should not be considered an endorsement by SISIS.]

TORONTO, May 3 /CNW/ - Ontario has appointed Jane Stewart, a former federal minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and a prominent long-time resident of the Brantford area, as its special representative to the Caledonia discussions.

"I am pleased that someone with Ms. Stewart's experience and knowledge of Six Nations in particular and Aboriginal issues in general, has accepted this challenging position," said David Ramsay, Minister Responsible for Aboriginal Affairs. "It is key that this situation be resolved and that the communities be returned to normal conditions."

Ms. Stewart will be responsible for working with the Six Nations representatives, Canada and local parties, such as Haldimand County to look at ways of mitigating the longer-term issues that have led to the situation in Caledonia. This delivers on the three-party agreement signed by representatives of Haudenosaunee/Six Nations, Canada and Ontario on April 21, 2006.

Ontario's special representative will report to the Minister Responsible for Aboriginal Affairs.

"Ontario is committed to finding a peaceful resolution to this very complex situation," said Ramsay. "I want to assure the local communities of Six Nations and Caledonia that Ontario considers this situation a priority and is using some of its most innovative people to resolve both the short-term and long-term issues being raised around the Caledonia impasse."

Ontario is also benefiting from the seasoned negotiating skills of former Ontario Premier David Peterson to help resolve the immediate concerns of road access in the Douglas Creek Estates and Caledonia area.

Backgrounder

THE HONOURABLE JANE STEWART, P.C., B.SC. (HONOURS)

The Honourable Jane Stewart served as a Member of Parliament of Canada for the riding of Brant from 1993 to 2004, joining the Cabinet from 1996 to 2004 as Minister of National Revenue (1996-97), Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (1997-99), and Minister of Human Resources Development (1999-2003).

She also served as Canada's delegate to various international conferences including the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, Egypt, and the 1995 World Parliamentarians Conference in Support of the United Nations, Gifu, Japan.

Stewart was an active opponent of Canada's production, export and use of anti-personnel land mines. She traveled to Cambodia in 1995 to view the results of land mine use.

Stewart was born in Brantford, Ontario, and is the mother of two children. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree (Honours) from Trent University in 1978 and works as a farmer and human resources consultant.

For further information: Ginette Albert, Minister's Office, (416) 314-2212; Anne-Marie Flanagan, Minister's Office, (416) 327-0654; Public Enquiries: Toll free number - 1-866-876-7672 or TTY: 1-800-387-5559