Province asks Ottawa for help in Caledonia

Ontario is urging the federal government to settle the Six Nations land claim in Caledonia.

The call came after a Six Nations confederacy warned of grave consequences this summer if Ontario continues talking with other groups about access to the disputed land. The land claim centres on what was set to be the Douglas Creek Estates housing development, which was occupied by a small group of protesters in 2006.

Former aboriginal affairs minister Brad Duguid answered questions Friday about the ongoing controversy in Caledonia. Duguid says he’s hoping for a solution in the coming months, but is looking to Ottawa for support: “At the end of the day, the federal government has not done enough. It’s time for the federal government to do more. Disagree with that as well.”

The provincial Liberal government bought the disputed land in 2006 for 16-million dollars to try to end a small occupation of the planned housing development.