Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2013-01-23, Page 5Wednesda , Janua 23, 2013 • Lakeshore Advance 5 Commtmlty Bluewater Biz Caroline said Mr. Bean's eye felt off but Joanne and Bob agreed to help with Bessie Bingo. if that sounds like gibberish to ylOwn yc) to proba- bly not from Bluewater. See planning is underway for the I len- sall Spring Fair and these kinds of provide un interface between rural and urban residents improving the knowledge level of urban resi- dents about the importance of agriculture. Country fairs also act as a catalyst for community development and commu- nity Spirit. Ills' first 1 Iensall lair was hel(I in 1 atm. 'Iliac year 1)anie1 shoots field was tinct $20 plus costs for driving it pair of horses and sleigh over Nies. 1\lurdock. 'ihe said defendant 1\lr. iiloomfiel(1 being (hunk at the time. Since then a shall army of dedicated volunteers, (nevoid of public funding have celebrated everything that is good and noble about country life year in and year out. Bluewater Biz Mark Cassidy Lakeshore Advance details slave to be worked out well in advance of the second weekend in June. Doug Manche Chair of the I small South 11(11011 Agricul- tural Society and his committee are getting all fired up about this year's festivities. So what does a Spring Fair have to do with economic development? Glad you asked. Country fairs The law is the law CONTINUED FROM > PAGE 4 We know the history. We know the aboriginal people 1. e the original inhabitants caretakers of the land and j�l e distinctive rights and responsibilities flowing from that status. But- non -aboriginal people are also on the land by birth with strong ties. We need to respect each other's laws and co -habitat mutually. 1'O1' the non -aboriginals -it is against the law to blockade highways, bridges, railways •- pretty much anything. The difficulty of the situation is that (Idle No More) is an issue between First Nations and the federal government hitt has to be resolved at the local level, because that's the lap it was dumped in. 'Ihe city of Sarnia had to Ileal with the blockade at the Bluewater Bridge, the City of Windsor for the Ambassador Bridge, the former Town of Bosanquet for the uprising in the 1990s. The politicians and police have to idle 110 more and uphold the law. As we have said again and again- someone needs to swallow it broomstick and get a backbone. Ontario PC leader Tim 1 ludac says," People have the right to protest- they don't have a right to cost roti jobs;' 1 le says there are plenty of places to make their case known on a political level but they don't have a right to block travel and to cause people who are already looking for a job to Ilatvt' less of a chane of finding one. 1 le's right and like others in (.atladat who go t0 their govern- ments to get answers- try that route. And if it does not work - try again. It is not easy. You get a lot of nays. We don't always get what we want --but it is the democratic wary and if you are going to live in Canada... Equality under the law being tested here is a loth; -standing legal principle in Can- ada that is in serious jeopardy: Equality under the Iaw. it used to be said that justice is blind and that whether you are a prince Or pauper, yotl should be treated (he sante. In Canada, this 110 longer applies. Stere, NV(' have the guarantee Of equality in Dur charter where section 15 wands, "Every indi- vidual is equal before and under the law:' But then immediately follow- ing that we Inane section 1:; (2) which says we can throw equal- itv unser the law under the bus if it is for it good cause, Where does that lead tis? In relation to current news of Native protests across (Canada, this leads us to affirmative action policing. You've heard of blockades across the country in support of the Idle No More campaign and Attawapiskat Chief'Iheresa Spence. Several tilllt's rail lines have been blocked and (:N Rail has been forced to go to the courts to have protester's removed because the police were not doing anything.'lhcy were sim- ply watching. On Dec. 21, Justice David Brown ordered a blockade in Sarnia to be removed "forthwith." Forthwith isn't an everyday kind of word, but it is used in the courts because it has a spe- cific all(1 cleat' meaning. it 1111'11115 immediately, without delay. But that's not what Sarnia police did, they instead decided to talk, engage and drum. '1 his week I was sent a Vou'ftlbe video showing Staff Sgt. left 1 ludgson drumming with protesters on 1 )ec. 2(i, five days after the rail blockade was ordered tetllove(l. "It was (tune to foster good- will and to built trust, rapport and friendship -- with an understanding of their protest," said Const. Heather Emmons, the media relations officer. ( )n 1)ec. 27, Justice Brown spoke to this issue again when (:N was forced to the courts to say, hey, they aren't listening. "With all due respect to the Sarnia Police, local police agen- cies cannot ignore judicial orders tinder the guise of con- templating how hest to use their tactical discretion. Such an approach would have the practical effect of neutering court orders," Justice Brown wrote. Still he was ignored. In Sarnia, they did not remove the rail blockade until )an. 2 , a full 13 days after the first court order. On Monday, Justice Brown once again blasted police for failing to enforce a different court order, this time it was the Ontario Provincial Police at fault. OPP Commissioner Chris Lewis shot hack. "I a1111 ilOt going to tell a young ()PP widow that her deceased police husband gave his life to open the tracks;" Lewis told (,)N11 Agency's Joe Warinlington. So apparently in the police world these days there arc only two ways to deal with unlulvful activities by Natives: \Valk its shooting or join the drumming circle. Let's be clear here: Commis stoner Lewis and the police chief in Sarnia would not toler- ate one or arty other 1111 -Native setting up a blockade of sweet, highway or rail lin' for weeks at a time.'Ihey would not consider the political impli- cations. If 1 set up a tent on a rail line, it would be taken down within 110u1'S and 1 would be charged. Would the accept different rules for Italians, or maybe the Irish'? Should people of (German or Mexican ancestry get different laws its Canada? If (:anadians believe in equality, we need to put it stop to this. We are either all equal under the law or we accept race - based policing. Brian Lilley, QMI Agency Plans for Spring Awakening Day underway Grand Bend WI President 1)ot111;1 1ovie presided for the January sleeting of the Grand Bend 1Vonlen's institute. Plans for the April 25, 2013 Spring Awakening Day are nearly com- plete. This event sponsored by GM! comprises of speakers, dent onstralors and lunch. Tickets ate now on sale for the annual ":sold out " event. (:O -ordinator Bath Kilback has tickets for this event and can be reached at 226 3711 7005. '1111' (;rand (tend Library dis- play case project for February is ".hearts". Any media depicting hearts will be arranged in the this display. It was noted that the \VI book club sleets January 24 at p.m. at the (rand Bend Library to review a favourite childhood book. On February 211 the discussion tot the hook club will h1' a hook that is now a ttovie. A 1VI walk will be planned for April i11 conjunction with a Provincial wt project. our February \VI meeting then!' is l ir1' Safety. Severat1 games of Canadian trivia, BINGO and card games were enjoyed during a social titn'. The \VI offers fellowship and education on current issues, for health, safety in our hoose, in cool ,tunnies here and around the world. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Lakeshore Advance welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must include the writer's full name, address, day- time phone number and signature (for verification. Anonymous letters will not he published. \Ve reserve the right to edit all editorial submissions including Tetters for clarification, style and length. Letters trust he signed and be in good taste 1111(1 follow the laws of Iihel and slander.