Judge hears calls for patience/action in Caledonia

Ken Mann
AM900 CHML
Jun, 01 2006 - 10:50 PM

CAYUGA (AM900 CHML) -- Provincial Police are defending their actions to date in regards to the native occupation of a Caledonia housing development.

O-P-P lawyer Denise Dwyer telling a packed Cayuga courtroom that they have tried to balance the "rule of law" with the need to ensure public safety in dealing with what she calls a "very volatile" protest.

Dwyer is among the stakeholders who have urged Ontario Superior Court Justice David Marshall to continue to show "patience", as negotiators try to resolve the land claim dispute.

The judge has been sent a similar message by lawyers representing the Six Nations Elected Band Council, the Attorney General's Office and Haldimand County.

Band Council lawyer Darrell Doxtator warning that a few "mispoken words" are all it takes to unravel weeks of progress.

Sending a far different message to Justice Marshall, were lawyers for Henco Industries and the Haldimand Law Association.

Henco lawyer Michael Bruder is renewing his call for the provincial government to purchase the disputed lands from his clients, noting that there's no sign that the O-P-P is planning any further action to enforce the court order.

The most dramatic comments of the day came from the law association's Michael McLachlin who has told the courts that the community has run out of patience waiting for the occupation to end.

He also suggested that any negotiated agreement that is reached to end the dispute will be seen as "caving in to lawlessness".

All sides were called to court on Thursday by Justice Marshall, who spent the day asking for their suggestions on how to end the standoff.

The hearing adjourned without any new orders, although the judge has asked all sides to meet with him again on June 16th for another status report.