Brantford developers propose short-term solution

Dunnville Chronicle
By BY KAREN BEST

Steve Charest's intention was to build a consensus to reach a short-term solution to deal with a development impasse in the City of Brantford.

On Monday, he and five others with investments and interests in construction projects set out at a public meeting what they called a look to the future. The group is called the Haldimand Tract Good Neighbours Coalition.

"We felt the need for political efforts to be complimented by some innovative business solutions," said Charest.

As soon as possible, they will bring the same message to a Haldimand County council meeting and to meetings with Brantford, Brant County, area chambers of commerce and other bodies. After receiving comments, the coalition will be refined and a follow presentation will be written.

Mayor Marie Trainer, who attended the meeting, suggested Charest make the presentation at a special council meeting.

At a meeting held at the Woodland Cultural Centre, which is located on Six Nations land within the boundary of Brantford, about 60 people gathered on Monday. Mayor Marie Trainer and councillors Lorne Boyko and Craig Grice came after being invited. Brant County Mayor Ron Eddy was present but Brantford Mayor Mike Hancock was not.

Provincial negotiator Chris Maher attended as did the executive assistant of Ontario Aboriginal Affairs Minister Michael Bryant.

Setting a professional and respectful tone, Charest said he was aware that many will be challenged to accept a new path but hoped all parties would be willing to move forward. "That's what good neighbours do," he said. This statement became the meeting's mantra.

"It's better to live with mutual respect," he added.

He said the coalition is a group of community builders who created a framework and were now seeking comments and others to join. Instead of living with restrictions of injunctions, the group wanted to live in mutual cooperation and respect. Charest also said everyone in the room shared the same hopes and dreams of living in peace with neighbours, justice for all and a better life for children and grandchildren.

Charest works for the King and Benton corporation which has a 427-acre $500 million redevelopment in Brantford.

Because discussions between Six Nations and the federal and provincial governments have dragged on for years, development took place on land under claim and everyone assumed settlement would eventually be reached, Charest stated. Frustration led to occupations that stopped development in Brantford. People in the city feel that Six Nations people are holding them ransom and want more steps taken against them, he noted.

The coalition believed there would be no government based solution in the near future and wanted to avoid a course of action that would tear communities apart and influence developers to locate elsewhere.

Because all other options will not work, the coalition suggested new measures to arrive at a compromise.

The coalition proposed that Brantford pay a percentage of the municipal taxes to the Haudenosaunee Six Nations on new development in areas under claim. On their part, Six Nations would agree that protests on land under claim will not stop work. When Canada and Six Nations reach a settlement, Six Nations reimburses monies paid under the interim peace agreement. For its part, Ontario will be asked to provide a guarantee for monies paid and to participate in the process.

All archaeological assessments will go to Six Nations for approval and all parties will lobby the federal government to set target dates for land claim resolutions. All development will be based on environmental standards set by Ontario and the Grand River Conservation Authority.

If these proposals go ahead, Brantford can proceed with much needed sustainable development and Six Nations will have a new source of revenue and recognition of their interests in lands, stated the coalition. All parties will have a financial interest in resolving claims and the potential for friction between Six Nations, Brantford and Brant County will be eliminated, the group noted.

Charest said, "Solutions often require compromises. If we are not prepared for that, we face a bleak future."

Six Nations architect Brian Porter joined the coalition to improve the standard of living and to maximize participation for the Six Nations workforce. A representative from Kingspan Insulation Panels said the company wanted to build a showcase facility that would employ 100 at the beginning. As a major employer, the corporation was happy to work on a community solution rather than counting on others, he added.

Consultant Drew Hill, who is an environmental engineer, described the coalition's proposal as a balanced approach that provided mechanisms to address past injustices and to allow rational development that is respectful of the environment.

The contractor who built the new Six Nations health centre said obstruction of development is directly impacting Six Nations people, who make up 25 per cent of the construction workforce. He joined the coalition because he doesn't want this to happen again.

Development is necessary to create jobs in construction and then jobs in the completed businesses, said Charest. He spoke against injunctions which in turn discourage other development investment in the city.

"I recognize there's different groups and different points of view but we can work together to find a path that we can share," noted Charest.

He spoke of peace and justice for all and overarching respect.

"With open minds and hearts, we

can capture some of the genius to make it work," Charest said welcoming input.

Six Nations Band Chief Bill Montour stepped forward to give a history lesson on Six Nations grants in the Haldimand Tract. He emphasized that his people have land rights not land claims.

"Over the years, various acts of Parliament forbade our people from coming together to discuss our rights issues or to hire lawyers or to actually claim land," said Montour. "It was only 1957, 1960 when those limitations were lifted. But the issue of our lands has always been at the heart of our people."

"We are not opposed to development. We want to be a part of it," he added.

Montour talked about previous loss of jobs with the exit of Massey Ferguson and other companies out of Brantford.

"It's even sadder when we've got 25 per cent of our people 30 years and younger are not working," he said. "We have got to find ways that we can have manufacturing, industrialization but more importantly agriculture because we can't continue to have greenfield development at the expense of food producing land."

He suggested working on the brown and grey fields. "But more important, let's start working together," he concluded.

Seneca Sub-Chief Butch Thomas, who was present from the Six Nations Confederacy, rejected this olive branch and said he would rather have all development stopped until rights are settled.

When negotiations started two years ago, Six Nations people thought there would be a breakthrough on land rights, said Thomas. He was convinced that the federal and provincial process is rigged for them to be the winner and would drag on until a new government is elected. Meanwhile the true owner of the land will not be recognized, added.

Thomas said the government must move on claims. "Because I don't see our people holding off much longer when they know development is going on on their land without their consent by using bully tactics, injunctions and bylaws," he p>Ruby Montour pointed out that development, the province and municipalities are on a collision course with Six Nations people who have a right and responsibility to defend the land. She also said she is under Haudenosaunee law not Canadian law and that Brantford's bylaw forbidding protests at developments does not apply to her.

Six Nations needs new territory for their people and will make a difference for their grandchildren, she added.

The future of children was heavy on the mind of Brantford city councillor James Calman. He said most people believe in the law of loving ones neighbours and as a result realizing that respect, understanding and a willingness to learn is the best approach in dealing with disagreements.

Both communities can identify a similar interest in the future of children. Both communities will need to work together to ensure peace, prosperity and future sustainability in this valley, said Calman who felt many coalition ideas were worthy of consideration.

Later Calman said Brantford is not sustainable without development and welcomed the beginning of discussion and expressed willingness to support new initiatives.

Band councillor Helen Miller voiced her opposition to protests and work stoppages and urged mayors and developers go to Ottawa to put pressure on the federal government.

In response, Clive Garlow introduced himself as a warrior who was responsible to protect land and made it clear he was not a protester. "(This meeting) would not be happening if we didn't do what we did," he pointed out.

Then Jan Vanderstolt stood up to talk about his peace petition suggesting responsible governments get together in respect and humility to remove obvious problems and to achieve common goals. His intention was to bring two sides together to work creatively for hope.

His approach aligns with the Two Row Wampum, a beaded treaty recording the separate and distinct cultures of the Haudenosaunee and the Europeans. Between them, the treaty called for peace, respect and friendship, said Phillip Skye of Six Nations.

He talked about lobbying government for change. He also said Six Nations must get its house in order and can't just have a few meetings if they expect to be consulted by municipalities.

"We can share information and change this world but not through harsh words and actions," he said.

Porter asked people present to look at the proposal as an opportunity to make things better and noted that it recognized some of what the Haudenosaunee Development Institute wanted.

"We can do this together without government. We are looking for what we can do with input and hard work. We are tired of waiting and being controlled from outside," Porter said.

Drew Hill recognized 150 years of neglect to Six Nations and asked people to consider the framework as a way to move forward and to come together in partnership.

Shortly after the meeting ended, Trainer searched for Chief Bill Montour and then asked him for a meeting. He suggested a joint council meeting and the mayor was interested in arranging one through his assistant.

Montour welcomed the proposal of supplying Six Nations with water out of a future Nanticoke water treatment plant. He said it sounded like a positive project for all. The chief said the proposal will be reviewed by his council and also noted people needed to express bottled up feelings before meaningful discussions could begin. He said the coalition meeting was the start of dialogue

and gave the group credit for the fortitude of moving ahead with a proposal.

Provincial negotiator Chris Maher attended out of curiosity and to hear comments from both sides. "It's tough to stand up there and to get the kind of questions they were getting." he said. "I see it as a positive, creative and proactive thing. We'll see if it has legs or not."

Trainer too welcomed any initiative that can help solve land claims.

Developer Michael Corrado, who has a 44-unit townhouse project in Cayuga, said the coalition effort is just another case of developers fending for themselves. "The government has hung us out to dry," he noted.

He also stated that by standing by land titles, the province has given good title and that should be enough.