TORONTO - Ontario politicians need to investigate aboriginal land issues and hold public hearings across the province so they can understand the frustrations that fuel lengthy aboriginal stand-offs and occupations, Conservative Leader John Tory said Tuesday.
The Conservatives filed a notice of motion to set up an all-party committee before the legislature rose last week which would hold public hearings in at least seven communities across Ontario and get input from residents about their experiences with aboriginal land disputes.
While some say the governing Liberals need to take action on aboriginal issues rather than launch a legislative investigation, Tory said a travelling committee would be a good use of the province's resources.
"We don't spend enough time out listening to the public, including First Nations leaders, and we don't make enough use of the legislature to go out and perform that task which is what they're elected to do,'' Tory said in an interview.
"Nothing but good can come from it.''
Some question the motivation of the opposition party, given the motion was filed by Conservative Toby Barrett, whose riding includes the town of Caledonia, where Six Nations protesters have occupied a housing development for almost two years.
But Tory said it wouldn't hurt politicians to learn more about aboriginal land issues so they can prevent future clashes.
"People in the legislature aren't informed until it's almost too late and it becomes a crisis,'' he said.
"That's part of the problem. If you go now to a lot of places where there aren't crises, you'll learn more and you can resolve some of them faster or prevent them from becoming bad situations.''
Politicians are scheduled to debate the motion when they return from their winter break in March.
But the proposal isn't getting much support from the government.
Greg Crone, spokesman for Aboriginal Affairs Minister Michael Bryant, said the province has already conducted a huge public consultation -- the inquiry into the shooting death of native protester Dudley George at Ipperwash Provincial Park, which issued its final report earlier this year.
"For eight years the previous government refused to hold an inquiry,'' Crone said. "This government held an inquiry, which included 239 days of public hearings.''
The resulting report and dozens of recommendations _ including establishing a provincial treaty commissioner -- comprise the government's "road map,'' he added.
New Democrat Gilles Bisson said he's apprehensive about a travelling committee that could simply provide the province with an excuse not to take action immediately on key recommendations.
The Liberals already know about the frustration surrounding the lengthy land claims process, and of aboriginal demands for a share of revenue generated by increased industrial activity on their traditional land, and yet have done nothing, Bisson said.
"It's not as if these things just sprung out of nowhere,'' he said. "What we're lacking is political will.''
