History could repeat itself with proposed housing development

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It’s been more than 9 years now since the major protests in Caledonia over disputed land that was to be developed and known as the Douglas Creek Estates. Now, another planned subdivision in the area is causing controversy. If history repeats itself, a protest is almost certain. The major housing development is set to be built just east of Caledonia. The Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council says the Liberal government is not considering their treaty rights and isn’t keeping a line of communication open with them.

“They’ve set this legislation telling all of these developers to come and develop here but they didn’t consider that the Haudenosaunee might not want that development there” says Hazel Hill of the Haudenosaunee Development Institute.

Now over 9 years later, another large parcel of land set for development is generating controversy.

There is over 500 acres on McClung Road that Empire plans to build three thousand homes on. There is a sales event that is open to the public Saturday morning at their Binbrook office beginning at 11pm. The Haudenosaunee say they have a message for would be buyers.

“I would say buyer beware.”

Aaron Detlor is a HCCC Lawyer. “I would be extremely reluctant at this point to invest any of my money in that particular development given the questions on the underlying title.”

Empire, the developer said they had no comment today when asked about the land. Construction on a sales site has already begun suggesting they believe the development is a go.

“That’s what they thought in 2006 on the Douglas Creek Estates as well.”

The Liberal government has met with a number of people including the Six Nations council but Hazel Hill hill says that doesn’t include the Haudenosaunee. “Ontario likes to look at Aborigionals and First Nations and they put them all in one category. Unfortunately, whether or not the band council is there is a mute point for the Haudenosaunee because it is still out treaty territory.”

No one from the province was available to comment today.