Dear Sir/Madam:

I have just recently come across your website. The following are my observations and opinions, only.

I am glad that there is a collective voice speaking on behalf of the citizens of Caledonia and area.

For years, I have said and believed that the aboriginal population of Canada are the only ethnic group who can commit civil disobedience and for the most part get away with it.  Anyone else pays the price.

However, there has been and presently is a distinct difference in the political will amongst various provincial governments through out Canada to deal with aboriginal civil disobedience.

As you might have noticed, Alberta has had very few instances of such civil disobedience.  On the couple of occasions when it did happen, it was dealt with very quickly by the RCMP and it was concluded with aboriginals being arrested and charged and convicted of the crimes that were committed. 

The two occasions that I remember were when Milton BornWithATooth was running  amuck with a rifle while the construction of the Old Man Dam was taking place in the southern area of the Province.  The other time was the civil unrest with the Lubicon Band in northern Alberta over land claims.  Both instances the police took action very quickly. 

This only happened because of the unwaivering political will of the Alberta Provincial Government at the time. It seems the Provincial Government in Alberta figured out a long time ago that aboriginal civil unrest over any type of land claim in Alberta would hurt the economy [oil], thus they were not about to let it happen.

On the other hand, Ontario and Quebec, whose Provincial Governments have chosen to be much more liberal and [have a more] tolerant view of civil disobedience are paying the price through ongoing instances of such civil disobedience.  Also, some media in Central Canada seemed to have a much more liberal view of the situation.  Ontario and Quebec have handled their instances of such civil unrest in a fashion that I think will be very difficult to turn around, because the benchmarks have already been set by past political leaders.  Also, it seems that there are much more militant groups of aboriginals in Central Canada.  However, you see very little instances of those groups of aboriginals trying to cause problems in Alberta.

I think the recent incidents in Caledonia have brought home some lessons to some media in Ontario.  It seems that the Provincial Politicians are hesitant to do anything conclusive.  It seems the Judge issuing the court orders is very frustrated.  Again, the Courts and the police, all require "political will" in order to accomplish anything.  The inaction of the OPP is likely the result of indecisive political decisions.  It really is the politicians who have to be held accountable for what has happened to this point in time in Ontario and Quebec.

I hope that Alberta never experiences the problems that have happened elsewhere in Canada.

I do have some personal insight to the aboriginal issues in Alberta, having spent 31 years in the RCMP.  All of my service was on general duties in Alberta with 12 years of that time spent doing Native Policing at several different locations.  I retired in 2001.

I do not speak on behalf of anyone or anybody.  Again, these are only my observations and opinions.

I find your website informative and forthright.

Keep up the good work.

Bill McGhie
Sundre, Alberta

Caledonia is a small town, one of hundreds in Ontario, so there is little cost to Politicians to step in and help. Just how long do you think such a sitution would have lasted if the Natives had barricaded Hwy 401 in Toronto, or Hwy 403 in Hamilton or the QEW in Oakville?

Politicians always look at what is best for themselves. In this case the appearance of being anti-native, anti-minority and being labelled a racist overruled any view of Law & Order. What is best for Ontario, as seen by politicians, is really what is best for the party.

Caledonia started down the path were no politicians will come out against the Natives. By the time it got out of hand the politicians were already fixed in their position - who would have thought the Natives would turn so violent?

Finally, when the very foundations of democracy and justice are underminded and/or destroyed, it is too late for most politicians to change course. This is true for Liberals as well as Ontario Conservatives. To date, John Tory has offered little or no difference to Mr. McGuinty's leadership. I am sure Mr. Tory will finally come out against Gwen Boniface now that she has gone - these people follow the public not lead the public.

The Lack of Political Leadership brings a Lack of Political Will.