Harris
By Eric Dowd
Toronto – Mike Harris was Ontario’s most confrontational premier in decades and he is not being allowed to ride gracefully into the sunset.
Harris, who retired in 2002, is more in the public eye through being attacked these days than any serving politician.
An unflattering picture of him is emerging from a judicial enquiry into the shooting death of a native demonstrator at Ipperwash Provincial Park in 1995 and it could hurt the current Conservatives trying to displace Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty.
Harris repeatedly refused requests for an enquiry, but McGuinty ordered one and it is easy to see why.
Several dozen natives including women and children occupied the park, an ancient Indian cemetery, arguing it should not be a campground but be returned to them, and Ontario Provincial Police surrounded it and heard gunshots, but none fired at them.
In taped phone conversations and testimony, senior police have described discussions they had two days later with Harris and ministers and officials.
One responsible for liaising with government on aboriginal affairs said at a meeting at the legislature Harris said `the OPP made mistakes. They should have just gone in. We’ve tried to pacify and pander to these people for too long. It’s now time for swift, affirmative action.’
The police representative got the impression Harris believed he had authority to direct the OPP, although elected politicians normally maintain they cannot intervene in police investigations
He pointed out the natives had merely trespassed, not a criminal offence, and if police tried to evict them, violence might erupt and police and government would look `dirty.’
He suggested waiting and seeking a court injunction to order them out, but said Deb Hutton, a senior aide who spoke as if she represented Harris (and is still so close she issues news releases in his name) insisted the premier `wants them out.’
This officer reported to a colleague `we’re dealing with a real redneck government. They’re just in love with guns. They couldn’t give a shit about Indians.’
Other senior officers said the situation was `not urgent’ and the Conservatives `just want to go kick ass,’ but police soon after entered the park and shot dead an unarmed protester and the police liaison officer concluded Harris lost an opportunity to avoid bloodshed when he did not call in a mediator.
A major issue is whether Harris directed police into the park and the evidence so far may not be conclusive beyond doubt. Harris’s lawyer has claimed he meant he wanted the protesters out quickly, but through a court injunction.
But it has underlined Harris’s hard line toward natives, some of whom, he once said, were building an industry out of making land claims. Most probably will accept police as accurate on facts, because they are experienced in observing.
Police were not normally critics of Harris, who was a strong advocate of law and order, and many police associations, although not all their members, supported him in elections.
The discussions also fit in with Harris’ style. He was noted particularly for cutting taxes and being confrontational and examples include calling an opponent an `asshole` and cutting an allowance to mothers on welfare saying they might waste it on booze.
Human Rights Commissioner Keith Norton is complaining Harris’s Safe Schools Act, which provides automatic suspensions or expulsions for students committing serious offences, is having the effect of unfairly singling out racial minorities, and Norton is no left-wing agitator, but a former Conservative minister appointed by Harris.
Liberal Economic Development Minister Joe Cordiano, irritated by Conservative criticism he spent public money to attract a car manufacturing plant, retorted Harris, who was stingy in such matters, came dangerously close to losing Ontario’s auto industry to the United States and the Liberals saved it.
Today’s more moderate Conservatives under leader John Tory are trying to dissociate themselves from Harris actions residents resent, but they inherited a lot of baggage and it is still piling up.
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