An out-of-court settlement has suddenly been reached for Dana Chatwell and David Brown.
Regulars to this blog know that I have been following this story for quite a while. I’m very happy for this couple and their son Dax. They can now leave this nightmarish situation.
However I wonder what the final taxpayers’ tab will be when the Caledonia issue is eventually resolved – if it ever is.
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January 2, 2010 Update
Enforce the law – National Post:
...We weren’t going to get that satisfaction from the civil suit, of course, but a humiliating finding against the government and in Mr. Brown’s and Ms. Chatwell’s favour would have been gratifying. Now we won’t get it. And we won’t hear allegedly damning testimony from OPP officers that they had indeed been given orders to stand back and let events unfold as they may. That testimony, which was to be heard next week, is the best explanation available as to why the government suddenly decided to settle.
Less clear — baffling, in fact — is why it chose to defend this indefensible case so fearsomely in the first place. It was halfway to sweeping the whole mess under the rug when it bought out the developers of the disputed land for $12-million in 2006. For some fraction of that amount, it could have finished the job and bought out Mr. Brown and Ms. Chatwell. Instead it spent untold heaps of taxpayer money putting them through the wringer, all the while shining a blinding spotlight on its own spineless ineptitude, and then cut Mr. Brown and Ms. Chatwell a cheque.
The problem is not that the Ontario Liberals’ spineless ineptitude has been exposed. In fact, that’s one of the few upsides. The problem is that future governments may learn from the Liberals’ mistake–if native protesters occupy some land, they may just buy out its rightful owners and let them have it. Better that than another Ipperwash, right? That’s no way to run a province. Men and women who lack the stomach to enforce the law, always and equitably, have no business holding public office. That’s the real lesson of Caledonia.
Your tax dollars were used to reach a settlement with this couple. Everything they experienced was the result of the government/police behaviour in responding to a serious breach of law.
I’m not sure what we should be happy about, except for the family, getting out from under this mess.
No criminals were punished.
The criminals involved would be [portion edited by blog admin] who were allowed to criminally harass this family.
The whole Caldedonia issue continues to be a national disgrace and has brought the administration of justice — police, courts, government — in Canada into disrepute. The settlement does little to mitigate that.
Finally something good comes out of that mess.
The Federal Government settles with a phoney POS for 10 million and it is all over the media.
Dultone McSlimmy and the OPP pay to “not admit their guilt” and it has no price tag made public. I guess that is OK because it is tax payers money not theirs . If these victims settled for anything less than 7$ million and expenses they were ripped off.
McGuinty government is absolutely morally bankrupt;
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/windsor/story/2009/12/30/newbury-well-closed-091230.html
4 troops and a Canadian Journalist have died in Afghanistan today..
Very sad day…
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/canadian-journalist-four-soldiers-killed-in-afghanistan/article1415241/
This was the first Journalist killed, very sad. No matter how much I dislike the media this I would never wish upon them.
I am just heartsick tonite at the terrible news out of Afghanistan.None of the political ‘crap’ means anything tonite..just wishing these deaths would end.I ask you all here to pray tonite,to keep our folks in uniform safe..and the civilians there as well.Now just isn’t the time to play partisan politics.God bless them all and my heart goes out to all the families.
JDot – Very sad indeed. More info here on Michelle Lang.
Now just isn’t the time to play partisan politics
Sammy, I agree. Bob Rae made a similar statement tonight on CTV – that it puts things into perspective.
Too bad that it takes something like this for all of us to realize that.
Sammy says…
“None of the political ‘crap’ means anything tonite..”
Co-Sign..
My heart and prayers go out to the family’s…
Native self-government + moral relativism + political correctness + progressive socialism = Caledonia = taxpayers get screwed.
I can’t blame the couple. They didn’t ask for this.
Yes JDot, a very sad day indeed.
My heart goes out to the families of the fallen.
“Too bad that it takes something like this for all of us to realize that.”
And there are still the partisan bozos on the message boards…
I have NEVER heard Rae or any other Liberal, publicly comment.
They should do it more often but especially MEAN IT! That “shoe” isn’t looking quite so significant now is it.
BTW, Michelle Lang, was a fabulous journalist…she will be dearly missed. First,Christmas Eve and now this, damn!
God bless them all.
Lisa Laflamme says that Michelle Lang was trying to find the good news stories in Afghanistan – the schools being built etc. This is so difficult.
God bless the fallen, our thoughts and prayers to the families left to mourn, these brave Canadians, they know and will live all their days knowing the cost of freedom. “At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them”.
I knew I could come ‘home’ to you all here to share my sadness,and it would be understood.I really needed to have my say,sitting here all alone and for some reason today’s news was overwhelming for me.I don’t think I could tolerate ANYONE trying to score political points on the loss of these poor souls.
It is by no means meant to diminish the loss of any of our other heroes,maybe it’s the time of year..and my having been so thankful and blessed over the season..I just feel guilty now,for all I have,for the safety and security we all enjoy..it is painful to think of the families of the fallen and the sorrow they are feeling tonite.I just wish I had the words to make it ‘better’..and I don’t know the words.
God bless the families of all who lost their lives in Afghanistan
our prayers go out to all our military and civilians in the war zones and their families
and to all the members of NATO
it is a very sad time
fh
God bless the families of our fallen – those brave members of our military and now our media who have succumbed to the wiles of saboteurs in this guerilla battleground known as Afghanistan. Michelle Lang demonstrated the highest of Canadian values, not shying away from her pursuit of securing the truth for a skeptical and now morale-suppressed Canadian public. We need more sophisticated detection of these dreaded IED’s. There’s too large a surplus of ordinance available to these daylight farmers who ply their bomb-planting skills after sunset. If we can’t light them up before they do it, or while they’re doing it, then we may eventually have to turn the country back over to these extremists, which is less-than-honourable to our sacrifices already made. Time to quit pussy-footing around and bring out the heavy artillery. We’re leaving ourselves far too vulnerable, and the cost is way too high. Our thoughts and prayers are with Michelle’s family as well as those families suffering the loss of these fine soldiers. As for the issue of our own Canadian terrorists (in places like Caledonia) who can hold the entire country at-bay whenever they wish, I’m just glad they stick to blockades and don’t use IED’s…
Michelle’s blog is still available online.
Lots of links at the Herald including a place to leave condolences.
This is really tough. What a terrible tragedy. My heart and prayers are with the loved ones of all who were killed. God Bless each one.
This is so sad.
Another tragedy for our brave Canadian soldiers and a brave Canadian journalist. I must say that Tom Clarks presentation of this tragedy on the CTV’s National news was commendable. He is comfortable to listen to on the news. I think Lloyd Robertson’s best days are behind him.
It is indeed sad that 4 Canadian Soldiers plus one real news reporter were killed covering how our troops were protecting the Afghan people from being terrorized by the Taliban.
Different country, different circumstances but still we have innocent people being terrorized by criminal/savage elements. The difference was that our troops (the OPP and McShifty) abandoned their posts and left these people to the … [portion deleted by blog admin].
Not in Canada you say?
Pat, I had to delete a portion of your comment because as you are well aware we have a two-tier justice system in Ontario. So I have to protect myself here. Thanks for your understanding.
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