2
WEDNESDAY, December 5, 2012
TEKAWENNAKE
OMB hears Haudenosaunee perspective on Sifton development By Jim Windle BRANTFORD
The OMB hearings in Brantford have adjourned until January but not without some confusion and controversy. Sifton Properties Inc. have appealed to the OMB with what they believe to be a City of Brantford decision to stonewall their housing project planned for the former Mohawk and Mississauga village of Davisville and the surrounding geologically and hydrologically unique area. From the beginning of the hearings, a delegation of
Six Nations men under the name of Hodiskeagehda, was allowed to enter the discussions by the Chairman of the hearing, Chris Conti. But last Tuesday, Nov. 27th, Bill Monture’s usual delegation members were unable to attend so they sent two women in their stead, Amber Murray, a Mohawk woman, and Brantford’s Sue Drape, who have been helping the Hodiskeagehda delegation with research. When the women began questioning lawyers and witnesses for Sifton, an objection to their participation was raised regarding protocol challenging chairman Conti
if the woman could participate in place of the Hodiskeagehda men. There was also confusion by the Sifton lawyers as to who Bill Monture was, thinking he was Elected Chief Bill Montour. During the extended lunch break Monture was alerted to the situation and rushed to Brantford to support his case and the women delegated to speak that day on behalf of the Hodiskeagehda delegation. When the hearing resumed, Conti ruled that the women, in fact, could speak and participate the same as Bill Monture or any of his delegation.
Monture thanked the Chair for his decision and Informed the lawyers that the women were going to be there and sometimes acting in their stead. “They have been authorized by us to speak for us when we can not attend,” he declared, he then asked the other participants in the hearing to treat them with courtesy and respect. The women’s position was consistent with the direction the men had taken and they clearly articulated the same. “The issue with us is the lack of consultation,” said Monture about their stance. “Same situation with the
waterfront master plan. It has some good things in it, but it also has some flaws. And we were not a part of the process.” A brief but terse objection came from Mary Ellen Kaye and Mary Lou Knechtel, the two women who orchestrated the WMP, challenging Monture’s stance that there was no consultation or accommodation in their committee’s planning process. “We are not trying to shut anybody down or disrupt these hearings,” said Monture. “We are here to enlighten you as to our position on the consultation process.” The hearings are now in
recess until January when they resume. Conti gave the Hodiskeagehda delegation this time to compile their evidence supporting their “lack of consultation” argument. The Hodiskeagehda gave the OMB chair and the lawyers for Brantford as well as Sifton and other developers involved in plans for the area, a historical backdrop and cultural perspective regarding this and all lands as well as the duty to consult rulings by the Canadian Supreme Court. Monture believes his delegation’s argument and the ruling of the OMB will be precedent setting.
to mark this historic occasion, Walton is planning to donate approximately 180 trees (spruce and cedar) to the Six Nations Eco Center at 2676 4th Line, Ohsweken, for planting at a variety of locations including Six Nations' community parks and schools. “I am convinced this partnership is good for Six Nations, good for Walton and good for the community. This is what this agreement is all about: sealing our common wish to work together on a whole range of issues”, said Bill Doherty. The partnership includes a framework for exploring areas of common interest from infrastructure projects and community support to participation by Six Nations in the development
of Walton-managed lands in the County of Brant. “For me, the partnership will bring long term benefits for Six Nations; the trees are a symbol of Walton’s wish to be a positive partner for Six Nations and the wider community”, added Chief Montour. The trees come from an abandoned nursery stock that sits on recently purchased land in North Brant and were cut, wrapped and delivered ready-to-plant by Walton on December 1st. Mr. Doherty noted, “Walton deeply respects the Six Nations people. We have greatly benefited from our cooperative and constructive relationship to date, and look forward to productive and enduring business relationship.”
nance committee but only a few hundred made it to Tuesday's vote. All were grouped by the Speaker in such a way that voting was expected to take as much as eight hours though could be less, depending on the pace. Either way, it's far less than MPs spent on the last omnibus budget bill. That bill, introduced in the spring, saw MPs vote for over 22 hours on hundreds of opposition amendments. The bill eventually passed unchanged. Opposition MPs say the use of omnibus bills subverts the democratic process as they don't give Parliament the ability to its job in holding government to account. “This omnibus budget bill
is yet another example of the Conservatives steam-rolling democracy to force unpopular, non-budgetary measures through Parliament at record speed without the necessary scrutiny,'' said Liberal finance critic Scott Brison. The Conservatives say the measures are all necessary for the economy and note that this bill was broken up for study in several different committees. They accuse the opposition parties of standing in the way of economic growth. “The ultimate goal they have is to kill our key economic measures,'' said Treasury Board President Tony Clement. “But we will act to ensure that Canada's preserves our economic advantage.''
Elected Council announces agreement with Walton By Jim Windle SIX NATIONS The Six Nations Elected Council and Walton International Group Inc. released a joint statement late Monday afternoon announcing that discussions have begun to develop what they call a “historic business partnership.” The Walton Group’s immediate plan for an upscale housing development on Tutela Heights, across from the Bell Homestead, has been met with opposition from a coalition of many different bodies; from local residents, to farmland conservationists, to Six Nations land protectors who believe the land designated for members of the Tutelo Nation by Joseph Brant shortly after 1784, has
never been ceded. “Walton welcomes the decision by the Elected Council of Six Nations to work with us to create a framework for partnership with Six Nations that is co-operative, consultative and mutually beneficial,” said Bill Doherty, Chief Executive Officer of Walton. According to the release, Walton will consult with Six Nations to reach mutually beneficial decisions that create opportunities for Six Nations, as Walton advances development in the County of Brant. Walton manages approximately 4,500 acres of land in the County. “We look forward to working with Walton,” said Chief Bill Montour. “Six Nations has much to contribute and we hope to build
Chief Bill Montour says, “We look forward to working with Walton. Six Nations has much to contribute and we hope to build upon our success of partnering with businesses in our community.” upon our success of partnering with businesses in our community.” Walton and Six Nations
have agreed to consider a wide-ranging list of options to advance their goals and as a symbol of good faith and
More sprint than marathon: MPs to spend hours voting on second budget bill THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA Efforts by opposition parties to amend the Conservative government's latest omnibus budget bill culminated in hours of voting Tuesday. Bill C-45 rings in at over 400 pages and like its predecessors makes changes to a myriad of rules and regulations, some that were explicitly in the Conservatives' last budget and some that weren't. Rounds of voting on amendments to the bill began late in the afternoon, with MPs taking their seats armed with other work, newspapers and holiday cards to sign in order to pass what was expected to be as much as eight
hours of voting. Earlier, a group of First Nations chiefs frustrated with what they say is a lack of consultation over measures in the bill had attempted to get in the chamber of the House of Commons as well. They spoke briefly with Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver, saying they were there to serve notice to government they wouldn't tolerate being ignored any longer. When Oliver left, the chiefs tried to force their way in but were held back by security. Among the provisions in Bill C-45 are an extension of a hiring credit for small businesses, changes to land management on Aboriginal reserves, pay raises for judges and a law allowing for the creation of a new bridge be-
tween Windsor, Ont., and Detroit. The most contentious changes are those to the Navigable Waters Protection Act, which remove thousands of lakes and streams from federal protection under that law. Opposition parties say that removes environmental oversight of these waterways the manner in which the law will continue to be applied is haphazard. “Important lakes and rivers in my region are being stripped of protection,'' said New Democrat MP Glen Thibeault, who represents Sudbury, Ont. “Meanwhile, Muskoka millionaires' playgrounds are protected while lakes that supply drinking water are not. Will no Conserva-
tive stand up for our natural heritage and vote against this cherry-picking of protected lakes?'' The Conservatives said the changes streamline regulation and remove red tape that held up projects along waterways under the guise that they would impede navigation. Many waterways will still fall under the environmental protection afforded by other laws, Transportation Minister Denis Lebel said. “My department has consulted with every province and territory on the list of waterways,'' he said. “None of them have any concerns with the list.'' Thousands of amendments to the bill were introduced during its study by the fi-