Our Province’s Tough Talking Sheriff
Much is being made of a transcribed telephone conversation between OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino and native protestor Shawn Brant during a particularly tense negotiation last year.
The issue of whether there was an illegal wiretape on Brant’s phone is a separate one. I’m more interested in Fantino’s comments.
The Commish apparently warned Brant that the native blockade of the 401 and rail line near Kingston would cause his “whole world to come crashing down” and that he had better end the protest or suffer “grave consequences.”
Left-wing politicians are crying foul. Brant’s lawyer is upset. I’m cheering.
The public has a right to peaceful protests. Carry a sign. Picket outside your MPP’s office. But don’t hold the rest of us hostage, whoever you are and whatever your issue. I felt that way during the teachers’ squabbles and the Days of Action kidnappings of entire towns and the anti-poverty activists’ melees at Queen’s Park and I feel that way about anyone, including those who are thumping native issues. It doesn’t matter who’s protesting what; you are never, ever going to get people like me onside by ruining our day.
I hope Fantino keeps talking tough. He’s not suggesting anyone open fire on s*** disturbers. In fact, he has shown remarkable restraint in shows of force. But he’s a hardass negotiator and it’s nice to see someone take off the kid gloves and stand up for the rest of us, the majority, who are sick of being pawns.
