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Liberals lost control in Caledonia The central focus of civil authority in our society has long been to provide peace, order and good government. The McGuinty Liberals have demonstrated abysmal governance by failing to provide neither peace in Caledonia, nor order among the various lawbreakers. The Liberals' ostrich approach to the crisis in Caledonia only emboldened the native protesters into ever more extreme actions in order to gain the government's attention. Now thousands of people's lives have been negatively affected, millions of dollars have been lost, and most importantly the rule of law, the very basis of our civil compact with each other, has been severely damaged. All of this has occurred simply because the Dalton McGuinty Liberals lack the fortitude to take direct, necessary and determined action to execute their most fundamental duty as a government-- the maintenance of civil authority. What has occurred is a dangerous precedent which will inevitably lead to increased incidents of native terrorism. I do not believe that the majority of native Canadians want anarchy-- however there are some factions, some individuals and some outsiders who hijack native issues to use for their own ends. Land claim issues are secondary to what has happened in Caledonia. A refusal to enforce the court injunction, and the determination of natives to protect those wanted on charges as serious as attempted murder, has swept away civil order. Not only is anarchy now the law in part of Ted Chudleigh today's Ontario, but Premier McGuinty's lack of leadership in refusing to abide by his own conditions required to restart negotiations has added fuel to that fire. Why would native agitators chose civil order when anarchy was working so well? Why would they hand over their comrades when there were no consequences attached to hiding them? The native agitators have thumbed their noses at the administration of justice. No matter what the final payment is; no matter what the terms and conditions that are agreed to, this is not over. Emboldened by their success, these natives will simply move the goalposts and make further demands until those tactics prove unsuccessful. More than 100 days of Liberal dithering and there has been no resolution of any issues as the negotiations for final dispensation of the land are on-going. Liberal dithering has produced a payout to the land developers, a transfer of abut 250 acres of other land to Six Nations, some financial aid to affected area residents and businesses, and near anarchy in Caledonia. --Ted Chudleigh is the MPP for Halton