Police board vents frustration over Caledonia blockade
CALEDONIA — It’s not up to Insp. Phil Carter whether to remove the protesters’ blockades from the Highway 6 bypass.
“I have some influence, but I have no say,” the Haldimand OPP detachment commander told members of Haldimand Police Services Board at their meeting on Wednesday.
Carter explained the OPP’s major critical incident commanders have assumed leadership on the police’s handling of the situation.
This was done from a logistics standpoint as it would be difficult for a single detachment commander to address the county’s regular ongoing policing and public safety issues, while also responding to a larger, ongoing event, he said, and because the commanders have specialized training for responding to such incidents.
Regardless of who is at the helm, Carter said the OPP’s approach is guided by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, specifically as the document details Indigenous peoples’ rights.
The board’s members were quick to vent their frustrations.
“I don’t buy this Charter of Rights and Freedoms B.S.,” said Coun. Dan Lawrence in response to Carter’s reasoning for why the OPP have allowed the blockades to remain in place.
Lawrence asked what the OPP would do if teachers were to block roadways as part of their ongoing job action.
Carter replied, “Hypothetically, we will have to deal with that when it happens.”
Kerry Boon, provincial member of the board who worked both as a police officer and justice of the peace, was critical of what he views as inaction by the OPP.
“Police officers are sworn to uphold the law. Their job is to enforce the law as it is written.”
Boon added that, in his opinion, the OPP’s response in 2006 to the blockade at the former Douglas Creek Estates set the precedent and emboldened protesters.
After the meeting, Carter told The Sachem, “The OPP is guided by the mandate and policy,” within the charter and documents like the Ipperwash inquiry report.
“Peaceful settlement outweighs the quick response that could escalate the situation,” Carter said.
During the meeting, Coun. Bernie Corbett, chair of the board, spoke about the impact the blockades were having on the economy, both locally and across the country.
The board ultimately decided to forward a letter to federal and provincial governmental bodies, calling for action to address the blockades.
“My feeling is, if we do not do anything, we are condoning what’s going on,” Corbett said.