Letters: June 13/13

Jeff Green | Jun 13, 2013

Time for Stephen Harper to walk the walk

"At worst, he [Jean Chretien] personally ordered it done and chose the people who executed the plan. At the very least, he fostered an attitude within the party..., chose the managers of the people who committed these crimes and completely and utterly failed to exercise any oversight, supervision or leadership.

In the end, it doesn’t really matter where [his] actions or lack of them fall on that scale. He is the leader and a leader is responsible for the actions of the people he leads.

If he had a right or honourable bone in his body, he’d admit that and resign immediately." - Stephen Harper, during the Gomery investigation.

Senators Wallin, Duffy and Brazeau were personally selected and appointed by Stephen Harper; Nigel Wright was hired by Stephen Harper to work in the PMO. At some point Harper must heed his own words and act honourably; based on his own words, Stephen Harper must resign.

Clint Hammond

Re: “Potts drops bombshell”

After reading the article Potts drops bombshell On Sharbot Lake Algonquins in the June 6 Frontenac News about Mr Potts’ announcement of the loss of membership to the group known as "Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nation" and the Bedard families, and as well as the other families mentioned, I must bring up a number of issues, knowing how this has all taken place.

Firstly, the agency responsible for this geneology for qualification to become a member via Joan Holmes and associates; this company has worked on many land claims doing this work and is partially responsible for these errors as well.

I will also state that these families, very similar to the Sharbot family, are all Mohawks or from what some call Iroquois but I prefer Haudenshaunee people. The Sharbot family carry Algonquin Certificates of Indian Status due to a marriage claiming my Great Grandmother was Algonquin, which I will say has proven different as well, but that’s for another story. Either way, I am glad that Former Justice Chadwick has found some of the errors.

Now, like Mr Potts says, the Algonquins are not going to go away, and none of us is asking for that. Personally, I would just like to see this settled with the truths and again remind the Algonquin Nation of their Agreements with the Haudenshaunee of Five Nations prior to the wars caused between our families at the time of European contact and the Jesuit mission that divided us.

I also am putting out this question now as to what is going to happen to this group of people led by Doreen Davis? Whoever is responsible for this error in lineage history should be charged as it has cost taxpayers a lot of money.

However, I am happy that this much has finally been looked at as it has caused a lot of bad blood within; I have seen so many people claiming to be from the original families at Sharbot Lake, without ANY proof to me and my family. Over the years there has been extensive research done to prove these errors and I hope that it will continue in order to keep what is left of the history correct.

Naiwen'kowa for reporting this in your local newspaper and I hope that this raises questions for a lot of people.

Catherine (Sharbot) Duchene

OHTO

The Ontario Highlands Tourist Organization and Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport exclude (and in our case, destroy) non-profit recreational tourism facilities/opportunities from your program.  This policy sucks.

Glen Pearce
President,  Shabomeka LEGPOWER Pathfinders  

Letter to Premier Wynne from Addington Highlands Township:

I am writing to express and relay concerns about the "Preliminary Draft Agreement-in-Principle" for the "Algonquin Land Claim".

The ratepayers in our Township of Addington Highlands have asked me about the lack of meaningful consultation by Federal and Provincial representatives on the negotiating team with municipalities and their residents. These are the people who have strived to sustain the area over the years by hard work and dedication. Their interest is equal to, if not greater than any others. It is extremely important that their voice be heard in order to obtain acceptance of the "Agreement".

Mr. Brian Crane, Chief Ontario Negotiator, stated in his letter dated April 25, 2013 (copy

attached) "that early discussion with municipalities were to share advance information" but these meetings are now being claimed to be consultations.

His statement that Algonquin Settlement Lands will bring new revenues to municipalities does not take into account the cost of servicing these lands, which will far outweigh the revenues.

The cost of land use planning and zoning will be ongoing. Access roads to isolated lands for the use of ambulance, fire and police will be costly both to create and maintain. Recreational Land Use such as ATV and snowmobile trails, hiking, etc are also a concern. Access to adjacent private properties will need to be guaranteed.

Federal, Provincial and Algonquin negotiators developed eight Shared Objectives during preliminary negotiations. The final of these was "to continue to consult with interested parties throughout the negotiation process and to keep the public informed of the progress of negotiations".

The local people need a voice at the negotiation table before the "Agreement-in-Principle" is finalized.

Henry Hogg, P.Eng.
Reeve, Township of Addington Highlands

Parking congestion on Sydenham's Cross Street

I have sent several requests to the township over the last five years regarding parking on Sydenham Cross Street. My request to limit the allowed parking is based on the township's own policies.

South Frontenac Township, Road and Lane Standards Policy, adopted by Council December 19, 2006, specifies a surface width of 6.0 m (20 feet) for Publicly Maintained Roads.

Furthermore, the funeral processions and patrons regularly violate THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF SOUTH FRONTENAC BY-LAW 2000-01 (Page 6 of 56): (f) No person shall park a vehicle on any highway where the Township has erected and maintains a sign or signs indicating a prohibited parking area, (i) within 15 metres (50 feet) of an intersection.

As I have stated in the past, Sydenham Cross Street is only 19-20 feet wide at best. Parking decreases the usable lane width to 10-15 feet, depending on the vehicles parked there.

To date, the only resolution I have been offered was in December 2010 when the Public Works manager offered to “review the signage”. Despite my requests, the only follow up I received was the suggestion that if I am still having trouble exiting my driveway, then I should just park in my back yard. So, against my better judgment, for the last two years I have been parking in my backyard (on my tile bed).

On June 8 I completely missed an appointment because I was unable to leave my back yard for over an hour due to excessive congestion on Sydenham Cross Street.

I ask you to please walk a mile in my shoes. Imagine if it were you or your family who couldn't leave their home. What would you do then?

Jerome Slater

Re: Tax dollars at Work

Carmel Gowan asserted in her letter (Tax Dollars at  Work, June 6/13) to the editor last week that “half of us are women, probably 5% of Ontarians are gay, and about 20% are atheist” and that Catholic schools “teach their kids to be anti-women, anti-gay and anti-atheist”. However, to take one example: using her own statistics, of the thousands of babies who are aborted for the crime of not being wanted by their parent(s), at least 50% are female; 5% would grow up to be gay and 20% would grow up to be atheists. Yet, the Catholic Church, and by extension Catholic schools, teaches that they all should live, and actively fights for their lives. So where does the real hatred lie?

Probably 95% of the material taught in schools, public or Catholic, has nothing to do with religion. Separate schools give an alternative to those who have concerns about the public school system. Eliminating Catholic schools would destroy the diversity of our educational system.

Carmel Gowan also contends that not funding Catholic schools would produce "kind useful tolerant adults". The world already has had and currently has many examples of atheistic societies and education systems. Do they uniformly produce kindness and tolerance? There are no churches in those countries to spread what Gowan says are "hateful teachings", yet, is gay marriage legal there?

Jule Koch