CBC National News stories vindicate CANACE founders

CANACE is pleased to announce that on Feb 02/10 investigative reporter John Nicol of the CBC National News published two important stories about our work.

The first focuses on how we came to have OPP Commissioner Fantino charged with a criminal offence:

Both the cops and the Six Nations people believed McHale and Vandermaas were agitators bent on encouraging unrest. Some even went so far as to accuse the pair of being white supremacists who didn’t like the province’s handling of the native demands. But anyone who believes in justice being open and transparent might just consider them heroes with what they’ve accomplished so far in Ontario courts.

Where the police have turned a blind eye, they have shone a spotlight and laid private charges, with astonishing success. To date, they have won four cases in Superior Court and now — against serious odds — have succeeded in laying criminal charges against OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino, the province’s top cop, for influencing or attempting to influence municipal officials.

CBC News, Feb 02/10: The 2 men who are putting a police chief on trial [PDF]

CANACE founder receives apology, compensation for Caledonia defamation

Mike Burgess, former operator of 'Caledonia Cafe' discussion board, apologizes to CANACE Executive Director Gary McHale, Sept 10/09. Click to enlarge.

UPDATED 1628 Sept 12/09

The former operator of a now-defunct Caledonia discussion board agreed, before a Small Claims Court judge in Hamilton yesterday, to pay CANACE co-founder/Executive Director Gary McHale a total of $3,750 in 25 monthly installments and to provide a written apology [image, right] for defamatory statements which he allowed to be posted on his board.

Mike Burgess was facing three separate Small Claims Court actions seeking a total of $30,000 for allowing false allegations to be published that claimed – among other things – that Mr. McHale and his associates were white supremacists and/or associated with white supremacist groups.

Sept, 10, 2009

I, Mike Burgess, past administrator of the Caledonia Cafe Message Board, issue this apology to Gary McHale for various posts on my board which defamed him.

I am unaware of any evidence that Gary McHale or members of his group have ever shouted out ‘White Power’ or similar types of words. I am unaware of any evidence that Gary McHale or members of his group are associated with any white supremacist groups or have ever invited any white supremacists to any rally.

Furthermore, various posts on my board that linked Mr. McHale to any crimes outside of the one he has been charged with are unfounded. I am unaware of any evidence that he had caused any violence to have occurred or desires to have any violence occur.

Finally, I wish to state that Mr. McHale has every right, like any other Canadian, to publicly take up any cause he wants. I apologize without any reservation for any harm caused by my board to Mr. McHale’s reputation.

[Signed] Mike Burgess

The settlement was arrived at the judge’s suggestion after he ruled the actions could proceed, thereby denying Mr. Burgess’s  assertion that they had been abandoned. Mr. Burgess had failed to honour a previous tentative, out-of-court agreement made with Mr. McHale in 2008 which is why the new agreement was signed before the judge.

Caledonia breakthrough: Canadians allowed to walk past DCE with Canadian flags

CANACE is very pleased to report that the following letter was sent to the OPP to thank them for their role in the ‘Support Randy Fleming‘ rally that took place on June 20/09.

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June 21, 2009 

Commissioner Fantino, Ontario Provincial Police
Superintendent Gentle
Inspector McLean
Sergeant Carter
Sergeant Michaud

Dear Gentlemen:

Gary McHale and Merlyn Kinrade asked if I would pass on thanks from CANACE to you and your officers for your assistance, your honest communications and your decision to protect and respect the rights of non-natives to walk down Argyle Street with Canadian flags past the DCE. I know this was a big step for the OPP and I know that Sgt. Carter could not have helped make it happen without the support of the OPP leadership. For this we are truly grateful to you all.

Before leaving Lions Park I told the crowd that the officers of the OPP have had a rough three years, too and that no matter what has happened in the past, or will happen in the future, today they made the decision to do the right thing for us. I asked them to thank every OPP officer they met that day in the hopes your officers would go home to their families to tell them that perhaps life will be getting better for them, too.

CANACE Report – McGuinty’s Ipperwash Cover-up: The Caledonia Legacy

The Caledonia-based Regional News has become the first media outlet in Canada to publish the full story of our Ipperwash Papers project —  in a two-part series that appeared Feb 18 & 25/09. Both parts are reprinted below as they appeared (photos are added) with references following.

The authors would like to thank publisher Chris Pickup and reporter Bill Jackson for allowing us to tell this important story in our own words. The Regional News has been a fierce watchdog for the people of Haldimand County, and we are very grateful to them. As Mark Vandermaas once said:

When the politicians and police finally realize that no realistic landclaim solution is possible if they continue to ignore the innocent victims of landclaim lawlessness it will be due in no small part because one courageous newspaper and a gutsy reporter held true to the highest and finest ideals of journalism in a town where fear has silenced so many.

VoiceofCanada, July 23/08: Ryerson Review of Journalism: McHale & Vandermaas important news sources for Caledonia dispute

The Regional News is not published online, but readers can download a PDF reprint of the series:

• McGuinty’s Ipperwash Cover-up: The Caledonia Legacy – Full Version PDF

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The Regional News, Feb 18/09

MCGUINTY’S IPPERWASH COVER-UP: THE CALEDONIA LEGACY

by Mark Vandermaas, Mary-Lou LaPratte and Gary McHale

PART 1: Race-based Policing in Ipperwash

On the sandy roads and beautiful Lake Huron beaches of Ipperwash, 35 kilometres north of Sarnia, Ontario there are few signs of the turmoil that once ripped apart an entire community and set others on a collision course with land claim anarchy thanks to a public inquiry that wasn’t.

Imagine if a future government invested $20 Million and three years on an inquiry into the Caledonia crisis, but refused to allow a single resident to testify, and deliberately excluded every shred of evidence of crimes against them by native protesters. What if this inquiry was then used to hold natives blameless and justify a ‘hands off’ policy against land claim lawlessness in other Ontario towns? This is the legacy of Premier McGuinty’s Ipperwash Inquiry.

CANACE Executive Director runs in Haldimand-Norfolk riding

UPDATED 1226 EST Oct 17/08

Gary McHale, President/Executive Director of CANACE, is running as a candidate for the riding of Haldimand-Norfolk. The riding includes the towns of Caledonia, Hagersville, York, Dunnville and Cayuga, all sites of illegal occupations by native protesters.

CANACE presentation to Brantford Council

UPDATED 1437 EST Oct 02/08

On Monday, Sept 29/08 CANACE VP/Director of Research, Mark Vandermaas, and Treasurer/Caledonia Liaison, Merlyn Kinrade, addressed the Public Forum Committee of Brantford Council in a 10 minute presentation of, ‘Reconciliation: the CANACE Path.’

“Our short-term goal is to preserve the rule of law and Ontario’s economy by ending race-based policing and land claim lawlessness,” Vandermaas told council, while three city police officers kept watch in the chamber.

“Our long-term goal is to force politicians to pass legislation to ensure this never happens again. We must create a province and a country where true reconciliation between natives and non-natives is possible based on truth, justice and respect for the rights of all human beings.”

Brantford Expositor, Sept 30/08: Gary McHale group greeted by heckler at city hall [REPRINT] [PDF]

Cayuga builder authorizes CANACE to gather evidence for criminal charges

UPDATE 2210 EST July 08/08: Two native protesters now face a total of 9 charges for Intimidation, Mischief and Extortion in connection with illegal occupations and construction shut-downs thanks to CANACE. See, ‘CANACE ‘extortion’ charges certified by Ontario Court of Justice.’

UPDATE 1134 EST May 22/08: National Post story: Police probe First Nations’ fees. The OPP is now going to conduct an apparently reluctant investigation into the extortion tactics used by the HDI, but builders should not expect any charges to be laid by the police. No doubt the OPP’s decision to announce their ‘investigation’ and the recent CANACE announcement that we intend to lay charges for Mischief and Extortion is merely a coincidence.

UPDATE 2228 May 16/08: 1. The Cayuga builders were able to connect the main water line to their development today.  OPP were particularly helpful in convincing native protesters to ‘allow’ the work to be done. 2. Links to Tekawennake News coverage added.

On May 12/08 a Cayuga builder, whose construction site has been repeatedly blocked by native protesters demanding money in return for an end to the blockades, signed a form authorizing CANACE to enter the property and gather evidence for the purpose of laying criminal charges. The OPP have so far refused to put a stop to the illegal activities, and so the builder turned to CANACE for help.