Finley, Federal Indian Affairs Minister, “missing in action” — Speller

WATERFORD – Bob Speller, Haldimand-Norfolk Liberal Candidate, met Ontario’s aboriginal affairs minister Thursday, pressing him on the on-going issues at Caledonia, including smoke shacks, the illegal tobacco trade, the clean-up of the Douglas Creek site, and law and order.  Minister Duguid was in the area meeting local representatives including Haldimand County Council on the issue.

“It is encouraging that Brad Duguid, the Ontario minister, is willing to listen,” said Speller. “It is discouraging that Diane Finley, the current MP for our area, and Chuck Strahl, the Indian Affairs Minister, continue to be fully disengaged on these issues.”

Speller accompanied by residents from Caledonia and across Haldimand-Norfolk, met Minister Duguid for two hours in Waterford’s historic town hall.

While Duguid is clearly working on the Caledonia issues, Finley and Strahl’s avoidance of the issue is increasingly becoming a barrier to achieving any solutions, Speller said.
“Finley and Strahl are disengaged, disinterested, and missing in action,” Speller said.

The problems associated with Caledonia will never be solved as long as Finley gets away with failing to deal with them, Speller said.

Speller noted that Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff met Caledonia residents and Six Nations leadership as recently as June and firmly committed to solving the issues. In contrast, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has maintained his silence on the issue.

“The truth is that Ms Finley and Mr. Strahl are taking their cues from their boss. Their collective approach is to avoid it, to duck it, and to cut and run. It is an approach that unacceptable.”