Daniel Nolan
The
Facing attacks of invisibility on the
Like Daniel in the lion's den, she took her seat at the chamber of commerce all-candidates debate and faced her critics head-on.
It was standing room only as more than 200 people came to the debate at the legion.
It was clear from the outset the crowd was with independent candidate Gary McHale, who has decried the 2 1/2-year native occupation of a housing project and the way the OPP has treated natives and non-natives.
The crowd cheered when he was introduced and applauded his comments, while Finley faced boos when she was introduced and grumblings over some of her comments.
At one point, moderator Warren Burger, the last police chief for the now defunct Haldimand-Norfolk service, threatened to shut the meeting down if people did not stop their catcalls.
"I'm not interested in your whining, snivelling and malcontent comments about a candidate up here," he said. "Trust me -- you can ride in a brand new OPP cruiser."
Finley has held Haldimand-Norfolk since 2004. Also at the debate were Liberal Dr. Eric Hoskins, who got the second most applause, New Democrat Ian Nichols, the Green Party's Stephana Johnston and Steve Elgersma of the Christian Heritage Party.
Talks to resolve the
"If we were absent, we wouldn't have any negotiations going on," she said.
"I know we would all like to say that a solution will be arrived at overnight, but that's not realistic."
Hoskins, whose party wants a deadline on talks, has now proposed that it go to the independent land claims tribunal after six months. The tribunal comes into being later this month.
At a debate Saturday, Hoskins proposed that it be put before a mediator if the deadline is passed.
McHale suggested the issue be handed over to the courts. He also suggested a lien be placed on money
"That would change this overnight," he said.