Accomplishments

In April 2006, two of the eventual founders of CANACE began writing about injustices and destruction caused by landclaim lawlessness in Caledonia. Another, Mary-Lou LaPratte, has been active in trying to give a voice to residents of Ipperwash since 1992. Here is a list of accomplishments to date:

  • Gave hope to residents who have had no voice.
  • Provided reliable source of information for media stories.
  • crowd2.JPGMade ‘Two Tier Justice’ a household phrase.
  • Exposed terrorist threats, and notified law enforcement agencies, including CSIS and various police services.
  • Silenced OPP defamation and propaganda with lawsuits and police complaints.
  • Exposed Liberal plan to sell out Caledonia residents and the rule of law for a swimming pool and a casino.
  • Exposed OPP illegal activities against law abiding citizens and lack of policing on 6th Line in Caledonia.
  • Exposed threats against Haldimand Council by OPP Commissioner Fantino, and assisted residents in filing complaints to the Minister of Corrections and Community Safety.
  • Held two news conferences at Queen’s Park media studio: The Ipperwash Papers & FantinoGate.
  • Exposed dangers to public and police from native occupiers as revealed in radio traffic recordings of OPP & occupier radio traffic.
  • Created ‘The Ipperwash Papers‘ project to expose Ipperwash Inquiry for the shameful cover-up it was. We were the first to tell the real story of what happened to the residents of Ipperwash, and the first to expose, in the context of today’s occupations, how native people there were also victimized, just as they are now in Caledonia. We were the first to get that story in the mainstream media, and we were the first to predict - 2 ½ months prior to release of its report, that the Inquiry would not be able to make any recommendations for preventing violence against innocent residents.
  • Organized 4 peaceful protests in Caledonia to support residents and gather evidence of OPP civil/human rights abuses for use in complaints and lawsuits.
  • Informed public, media outlets and human rights/government watchdog agencies about victimization of native citizens due to Two Tier Justice policies.
  • Organized peaceful protest in Brantford in support of builder facing intimidation from native protesters.
  • Held townhall gatherings to inform residents.
  • Informed the public as to the financial cost of native lawlessness in terms of delayed or stopped residential and commercial construction; government appeasement due to native intimidation; policing costs; vandalism and stoppage of infrastructure projects.
  • Met with senior officials of the Ontario Ombudsman’s office to update their knowledge about OPP violations of civil rights, and the Ontario government’s attempt to stifle investigations into complaints against OPP Commissioner Fantino. 
  • In July 2007 CANACE co-founders, Gary McHale and Mark Vandermaas filed complaints to the Ontario Human Rights Commission about the systemic, race-based policing practices used by the OPP. These complaints have been served. In April 2008 CANACE co-founder Mark Vandermaas was notified that the OHRC had scheduled a mediation session to address his complaint against OPP Commissioner Fantino and two other officers.
  • Filed complaints through the Ontario Civilian Commission on Police Services related to arrests, defamation and violation of constitutional rights. All were dismissed, some without an investigation however, the documents and evidence obtained as a result of them has and will be used in pursuit of other legal remedies such as the OHRC complaints above. 
  • Filed lawsuits for unlawful arrest (while raising a Canadian flag!) and defamation against the OPP and the Ontario Provincial Police Association. These actions are continuing, and OPP/OPPA lawyers are doing their best to delay our day in court.
  • Continuously fed information, evidence and ‘calls to action’ to the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, culminating in the visit of John Tory to Caledonia on September 23, 2007 where he announced strong new “non-negotiation” policies to deal with those who engage in illegal occupations.
  • On Nov 01/07, CANACE co-founders Gary McHale and Mark Vandermaas addressed students at the University of Waterloo by invitation; provided information and supporting evidence regarding the human costs of illegal occupations, and the Ipperwash legacy for Caledonians.

In summary, with the help of some very dedicated volunteers, we brought attention to places like Caledonia,  Ipperwash, Deseronto, Hagersville, Dunnville, York, and Brantford. We have much more work to do, but in a relatively short period of time, we have made it politically impossible for media and politicians to ignore the impact of land claim violence and intimidation.