Topic: "Ontario highway 'toll booth' peaceful: OPP"

[Jim Seggie]

In Denmark they promote hockey walking helmets for pedestrians.
"A walking helmet is a good helmet":
http://www.copenhagenize.com/2009/08/walking-helmet-is-good-helmet.html
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kSNVKrktKUQ/SnmSvPQeLLI/AAAAAAAADxE/7PchBe9afXI/s1600-h/gohjelm.png

Watch out.....the walking helmet will catch on here too. Another cash cow.

[milnews.ca]

TOLL BOOTH REMOVED FROM HIGHWAY -- COUCHICHING FIRST NATION RECEIVES ASSURANCES THAT CONTAMINATED LANDS WILL BE DEALT WITH AND HOME-OWNERS WILL BE MOVED AS WELL THERE NOW WILL BE NEGOTIATIONS ABOUT THE HIGHWAY 11 CORRIDOR RUNNING THROUGH COUCHICHING TERRITORY.

“Our Community is claiming victory” says Chief Chuck McPherson, “we have received a commitment to relocate 8 home-owners from contaminated lands to newly serviced lots on our reserve, and also a commitment to negotiate suitable compensation for the highway claim.”

NEWS


After receiving a firm commitment from Minister of Indian Affairs, Chuck Strahl, the community has decided to remove the toll booth from the portion of Highway 11 they assert is their reserve land. A $1.00 tolll has been collected from over 14,000 vehicles travelling over the highway in the last 10 days since May 21, 2010.


“I am happy that no one has gotten hurt and that our community has done the removal of the toll booth very peacefully.” Stated Councillor Ed Yerxa who was a fixture at the toll booth site just east of the Noden Causeway. “Community members have been on a constant watch of the toll booth since threats were made against the toll booth, our community and the toll booth operators.” Many of the toll booth operators were young men and women from the community and strictly followed the instructions not to engage in debates with passing motorists or force those unwilling to support the toll booth initiative to pay the $1.00 toll.

“We don’t recommend this as anything but a last resort for First Nations,” explained Councillor Sara Mainville, “our members have been ostracized by our neighbours in the Town of Fort Frances, there were incidents of blatant racism and overt hostility towards our cause. But, there is a 132 feet on that highway that is legally ours and it was our strong belief that only direct action would bring the Federal Government to the table in a real way. Despite receiving strong assurances to deal with the highway, we were most pleased with Minister Strahl’s firm commitment to move the homeowners now residing on contaminated lands." ....

A bit more here.

[ColdNorth]

According to the website:

The Couchiching Toll Booth Initiative was enacted upon by Couhiching First Nation Chief and Council as a means to address many of the social and legal issues surrounding the community and band membership. The issues, and sole reasons for enacting the Toll Booth Initiative are threefold:

1) The land on which a portion of Highway 11 sits upon was stolen from Couchiching First Nation.
2) The Federal Government has failed to address the contaminated soil sites that have forced Couchiching residents from their homes.
3) All other outstanding claims and grievances with the Provincial and Federal government.

But then that raises the issue, if this was to address the contaminated soil, and the government now said they would deal with the issue (at the cost of the taxpayer no doubt), what will become of all that money collected?

(Not to mention that issues 1 & 3 bring on a whole set of other debatable issues)