Deseronto Keeps McHale and pals out

Deseronto keeps contentious group out
Samantha Craggs
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Belleville Intelligencer

A controversial citizens group involved in the Caledonia land claim dispute has been turned away from Deseronto's public meeting rooms.Mark Vandermaas, editor of the Voice of Canada Internet weblog, and others planned to come to Deseronto to hold a public meeting about "the rule of law" and the "two-tiered justice system" his organaztion says allows violence to prevail in native land claim protests. But first the Deseronto Lions Hall, then the Royal Canadian Legion in the town denied them meeting space, said Vandermaas."What's really frightening is it's shutting down free speech with people who have never committed a crime and never instigated hatred," said Vandermaas, a London-based real estate broker who also compiled the Ipperwash Papers, an account of what residents experienced in the Ipperwash conflict.About 60 per cent of Deseronto is included in the Culbertson Tract, 923.5 acres currently subject to land claim negotiations between the federal government and the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte. Protesters have occupied a gravel quarry on Deseronto Road since March and on one occasion blocked a nearby CN rail line for 30 hours.The occupation of a Caledonia site, meanwhile, is in its second year.The planned community meeting, said Vandermaas, would have educated Deseronto residents on filing complaints against police, the importance of documenting injustice and "what kind of country we want to have.""I don't understand how talking about the rule of law would cause problems," he said.Vandermaas and Gary McHale, of Richmond Hill, owner of the website Caledonia Wake Up Call, were arrested in December for hanging Canadian flags across from the protest site in Caledonia. They have also been involved in lawsuits and countersuits with the Ontario Provincial Police, who they say have been ineffective in protecting the rights of non-natives. McHale's website has also posted wanted posters with pictures of individual officers.But Deseronto clerk-treasurer Brian Brooks, who books the Lions Hall, said none of this caused him to deny their request.The hall, he said, is mainly used by community groups who already have arrangements through to the end of this month. Council has yet to decide its future rental policy."It's not that we have an open facility that we rent to out-of-town groups," he said.Even if it did, there are reasons to deny the request, Brooks said. "It wasn't that we said they couldn't come because we can't do that, but we always retain the right to decide who books the facility. We're trying to look out for what's best for Deseronto," he said. "I don't believe it was an educational process. I think that they had further intent. But the grounds we turned them down on was that it's a facility for community associations."For the most part, Deseronto residents are pleased with the police treatment of the situation, said Brooks."We've had lots of police presence here," he said. "Quite honestly, most people feel protected."Deputy Mayor Clarence Zieman concurred."We're trying to deal with this situation the best we can," he said. "From what I understand, the meeting would have been to berate what they call a two-tier system of policing. We're quite happy with what the OPP are doing."For Vandermaas, who did a UN peacekeeping tour in 1978, it was surprising to be denied by the legion. He said he was told by legion president Tom Dowling that his group is sectarian and the legion is non-political with a large native membership."I was stunned," he said. "If anyone should know the value of free speech and equality, it should be the legion."Dowling could not be reached for comment Monday.Vandermaas said the group still plans to hold its Deseronto meeting. "We may just go and speak in the park," he said. "Just because these people refuse to rent us rooms doesn't mean we're not coming. If we have to speak in someone's backyard, we will."