A medical exception

November 17 2008

Posted By Brantford Expositor

Every strategist knows you have to pick your battles. Sometimes it's better to back away from a fight that will only do more harm than good.

Floyd and Ruby Montour and their supporters face this situation. Ten days ago, they blocked work at a construction site on Garden Avenue, near the truck stop at Sinclair Boulevard.

The natives demanded that all work stop, machinery be removed and that the developer, Vicano Construction Limited, show its plans to the Haudenosaunee Development Institute and pay fees to the HDI.

Work did stop and the machinery moved to another project. The company says it will contact HDI.

But this is no ordinary project. It's a $6-million medical centre that will bring badly needed services and doctors to Brantford and area.

Work must not be held up. The project must open by next August to replace the walk-in clinic on Fairview Drive and attract doctors from Toronto.

The Montours may have thought the site was intended for a hotel and gas bar, which were uses listed on earlier planning documents.

If the project is overly delayed, people -- native and non-native will be hurt. The area -- including Brantford, Brant County and Six Nations -- needs this facility, the first to be built locally in 20 years.

It's in a great location near Highway 403 and was designed by Six Nations architect Brian Porter.

The Montours have made their point about native land claims by protesting at several sites in Brantford. Blocking construction of a medical centre will not help their cause.

Six Nations leadership needs to step in. The entire Grand River Community will benefit from the medical centre. It's in everyone's interest to make sure it is built and opens on deadline.

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Article ID# 1299570