Co-founders of Canadian Advocates for Charter Equality (CANACE) Gary McHale and Caledonia resident Merlyn Kinrade, and Caledonia Victims Project founder Mark Vandermaas will be joined by Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett and fellow MPP Randy Hillier (Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox) at a news conference in the Queen’s Park Media Studio tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 pm.
The purpose of the event is to provide journalists with information about our upcoming ‘Truth and Reconciliation Rally’ which will be held this coming Sunday, Feb 27th at 1pm. (link to news release below)
We are very pleased that Mr. Barrett and Mr. Hillier have agreed to participate in this news conference to show their support in furthering the cause of healing for Caledonia and Six Nations residents.
MPP Toby Barrett – there from the beginning
Mr. Barrett was one of the original speakers at Gary McHale’s inaugural March for Freedom on Oct 15/06, and so it is very fitting that he should take part in announcing this, the next stage towards resolution now that Christie Blatchford has finally recorded the ugly, undeniable history of Caledonia’s victims: the encouragement of those responsible to apologize so both Caledonia and Six Nations can begin a meaningful healing and reconciliation process that is based on truth, justice and respect for all human beings.
His devastatingly concise ‘Haldimand Proclamation for Peace, Order and Good Government‘ of February 11, 2008 surely must rank as one of the most shocking and historically-important documents ever written by a Canadian politician:
- VoiceofCanada feature: The Barrett Proclamation
Barrett has previously made the Media Studio available to us on three other important occasions:
- Dec 04/07: Illegal Smokeshacks (Doug Fleming’s campaign vs. Illegal smokes and violence by 6N vs. non-natives, Dec 01/07)
- March 14/07: The Ipperwash Papers (release of 400 pages of docs proving Inquiry did not study violence vs. Ipperwash residents)
- April 17/07: FantinoGate (OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino threatens Haldimand Council via email)
PC Leader Tim Hudak – a voice of reason when it counted
We should also note that, at a time when Ontario government ministers, including the Premier, were urging people not to march with Gary McHale in 2006 because they would be putting their lives “in danger,” current PC Leader Tim Hudak was the only voice of reason:
“…Conservative Tim Hudak said the government is ignoring the situation and needs to end the ongoing occupation. The rally shows town residents have had enough, he said. “People are not only angry, they’re damn angry,” Hudak said. “It’s an incredible double standard. On the one hand, the premier is against this rally but it’s carte blanche for the occupiers on the occupied site.” The province shouldn’t continue negotiating with Six Nations as long as the protesters remain on the site, Hudak said. “There is no reason for that occupation to continue,” he said.
- VoiceofCanada, Oct 12/06: Ontario MPP Tim Hudak – a leader emerges to tell the truth about Caledonia and the March for Freedom
- VoiceofCanada, Oct 12/06: Mr. Ramsay – why would my life be in danger in Caledonia?
ANNOUNCEMENT: Representative from International Free Press Society to speak in Caledonia
We are pleased to announce that Mary Lou Ambrogio, Vice President of the Canadian chapter of the International Free Press Society – founded by Lars Hedegaard of Denmark to act as advocates for those whose freedom of expression is under attack – will be a guest speaker at our Truth & Reconciliation Rally on Feb 27th.
Ms. Ambrogio has invested many hours in understanding the numerous issues arising from the Caledonia crisis, including the repeated attempts to suppress non-native freedom of expression in order to appease native militants. IFPS has also shared internationally our message about the application of Dr. King’s ‘non-violent direct action’ methods to confront the oppression of free speech in Europe:
- Gary McHale & Mark Vandermaas: Dr. King’s ‘Letter from Birmingham Jail’ vs. Denmark’s thought crime prosecutions: a blueprint for victory over appeasement of Islamic extremism (also published on international site)
- McHale, Vandermaas stmt re confronting Danish thought crime prosecutions featured on websites of International Free Press Society
IFPS scrutiny is particularly relevant now that the OPP has decided to withold their news releases from the paper which publishes Gary McHale’s column, and has taken a consistently strong stand on behalf of Haldimand’s victims of the OPP’s racial policing policies.
Haldimand residents should be sure not to miss Gary McHale’s Regional News column tomorrow entitled ‘The Outside Interlopers are Watching’ (link to be posted then) that explains the tremendous benefits of taking Caledonia’s story and its lessons to the national and international stage, and how journalists are now recognizing it as a civil rights struggle:
- TorSun founder Peter Worthington connects dots between Caledonia victims, Dr. King, and European persecution of Islam critics
- Regional News, Gary McHale, Feb 23/11: The Outside Interlopers are Watching (to be posted after publication tomorrow after our Queen’s Park news conference)
About the Truth and Reconciliation Rally
Details about next Sunday’s rally can be found in this joint CANACE/Caledonia Victims Project news release:
- JOINT NEWS RELEASE: ‘Truth & Reconciliation’ Rally in Caledonia Feb 27th
- see also: Regional News, Gary McHale, Feb 16/11: Walk Like an Egyptian
Gary McHale, Executive Director
Canadian Advocates for Charter Equality
289.286.0423
info@canace.ca
Mark Vandermaas, Founder
Caledonia Victims Project
519.457.0709
info@caledoniavictimsproject.ca
Caledonia Victims Project 
