Solution To Land Claim Fiasco

I am sure we can get No New Taxes McGinty on board for the following suggestion: Have a referendum of all voters in Ontario to determine whether they support Indian land claims and if so they will sign waivers that would have them pay a special tax over and above what they are paying now and they will turn over to the government all rights to property owned. Let's walk the talk.......

Ontario replaces negotiator in Caledonia talks

Updated Tue. May. 8 2007 9:16 AM ET

Canadian Press

TORONTO -- The province is replacing its veteran aboriginal affairs negotiator Jane Stewart in the talks to end the 15-month-long Six Nations occupation in a southern Ontario town as frustration grows among aboriginals and residents alike.

The former Liberal Indian affairs minister is being replaced by Murray Coolican, a former deputy minister of Ontario's aboriginal affairs department, after a year at the negotiating table and with no deal to end the occupation of a former housing development site in Caledonia, Ont.

David Ramsay, minister responsible for aboriginal affairs, said Stewart did not request to leave, but some say privately she was ready to move on and return to her consulting business.

Her departure suits the change in negotiations since Coolican is more experienced at dealing with the technical details involved in aboriginal land claims, he said.

"He's got all the skills and knowledge to be a very successful negotiator," Ramsay said in an interview.

"(His appointment) reflects the true position of the province's role at the table - that of a secondary role and technical adviser ... We (don't) need as high a profile person as Jane Stewart now as we did in the beginning."

Although Stewart was being paid $1,300 a day to negotiate an end to the occupation, Coolican's salary is still being negotiated, Ramsay added.

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