An ongoing aboriginal occupation in southwestern Ontario has worn out the patience of the province’s taxpayers, Premier Dalton McGuinty said Friday as he urged Ottawa to pick up its fair share of the cost and settle the eight-month dispute with Six Nations protesters.
Although McGuinty has consistently called for patience in the aboriginal standoff in Caledonia, Ont., south of Hamilton, his own appeared at an end as he reminded the Conservatives in Ottawa that aboriginal land claims are a federal responsibility.
“It is costing the people of Ontario a lot of money,” McGuinty said after a speech in Niagara Falls, Ont.
“We intend to claim for compensation from the federal government and we would encourage the federal government to fully assume its proper responsibility and begin to bring some real vigour to the negotiations and to bring them to some conclusion.”
A federal representative is involved in the negotiations to settle the dispute, which began in February, but has not taken a lead role, those close to the talks say. Article continues....
