You Must Be A Member Of A Designated Group

If you want to be able to break the law and to be able to protest without fear of arrest or criticism. David Peterson, MicGinty's personal choice as a paymaster, reinforces this position and calls people not within the designated groups "wackos" because they want to be free to express their disatisfaction with the government's bungling.

Caledonia march organizer blasts David Peterson

Updated Sat. Sep. 23 2006 11:23 PM ET

Canadian Press

TORONTO -- The co-organizer of an upcoming march in Caledonia, Ont., on land occupied by aboriginals says comments by former Ontario premier David Peterson critical of the event and its supporters are "offensive.''

"The lawlessness that takes place in Caledonia and Ipperwash, if this was truly covered by the media, the entire country would be in an uproar,'' said Gary McHale, a resident of Richmond Hill, Ont., north of Toronto, and co-founder of the group Caledonia Wake Up Call.

McHale said Peterson was calling anyone "opposed to the government ... taking another 15 years of negotiating `a wacko.'''

"It's offensive to me, and it's offensive to everybody who lives in Caledonia.''

Peterson, who the Ontario government appointed to negotiate in the dispute, said Friday he doubts anyone will take the upcoming rally seriously.

"There are a lot of wackos in society,'' he said. "It's important not to give them too much credibility.''

"I don't think anybody there will think this is a constructive thing to do,'' Peterson said, adding people need to give the negotiations some time.

Calls to Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Ramsay's spokesperson and Peterson's office were not immediately returned Saturday.

McHale, who is organizing the Oct. 15 March For Freedom with his wife, said the purpose of the event is not to protest the ongoing occupation of the land that the aboriginals say was illegally taken from them 200 years ago.

Rather, he said the march is against what he called "two-tier justice'' in Caledonia, where he says the aboriginal occupiers have been receiving preferential treatment from Ontario Provincial Police.

A number of violent incidents have taken place since the occupation began in February, resulting in dozens of charges against more than 20 people.

In a statement released Saturday, a police spokesman said Caledonia residents should be reminded of the importance of working together as negotiations in the dispute continue.

"Sadly, there are always some who take advantage of a fragile situation to further their personal causes or beliefs,'' said Sgt. Dave Rektor.

"The spreading of rumours or outsiders coming into the community to advance their own agenda by attaching it to this issue is counterproductive towards a peaceful resolution.''

Rektor said police "have seen a greater willingness by all to allow the natural process of negotiations to take its course.''

"The number of incidents investigated by police has subsided and a fragile peace appears to be stabilizing over time,'' he said.

Rektor said that to date, 27 people have been charged with a total of 57 offences.

Police continue to go over videotapes and statements, and additional charges are anticipated, he added.