Gary McHale
Encyclopedia
Gary McHale is a Canadian political activist, famous for his involvement in the Caledonia land dispute
. McHale also created "Canadian Advocates for Charter Equality (CANACE)."
, where he worked as a bookseller. He and his family have rented a house in Caledonia the past three years.
McHale's protests have been described as antics in the national media and OPP Police Commissioner Julian Fantino has stated that the Caledonia
protests were "counterproductive".
On November 8, 2007, OPP Police Commissioner reported to Hamilton Spectator newspaper that McHale's rallies have cost over a $500,000 to police. According to the newspaper, 22 OPP police officers filed a $7.2 million lawsuit against McHale for defaming them on his website. "McHale criticized the OPP officers who stopped him from hanging Canadian flags near the occupied site saying they were violating their oath of office." The photos of all the 22 police officers were also posted on the site under the heading "OPP: Hang your heads in shame," saying each one of them had violated their oath of office, the statement of claim said. 'The lawsuit comes as Fantino is being investigated by the province for an e-mail he sent to Caledonia politicians, suggesting they supported McHale's rallies.' Court papers of the lawsuit.
McHale was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit mischief during a native smoke shop protest that turned violent in December 2007. As part of his bail conditions, McHale was barred from Caledonia and banned from communicating with certain individuals. Haldimand County, Ontario
mayor Marie Trainer
and Haldimand—Norfolk—Brant
MPP Toby Barrett
spoke out in his defence.
McHale’s basic message has been that the OPP (Ontario Provincial Police) "two tier policing" policies cause officers to stand by and watch as native protesters commit crimes against local residents. This message has been echoed by local politicians and residents during a convoy to Queen’s Park, the provincial capital.
McHale, who represents himself in court, started a campaign of laying criminal charges against native protesters when the OPP refuse to do so. He has been successful in laying extortion, mischief and intimidation charges against two key native protesters and also won a judicial review case against the OPP for their refusal to appear in court when summoned by a subpoena. Some have stated that “McHale is filling a vacuum. Although the OPP has been investigating, no charges have resulted.”
Cabinet Minister Diane Finley
in Haldimand--Norfolk in the 2008 Federal election
. He came in fourth with 10% of the vote.
Caledonia land dispute
The current Grand River land dispute came to wide attention in Canada on February 28, 2006. On that date, protesters from the Six Nations of the Grand River began a demonstration to raise awareness about First Nation land claims in Ontario, Canada...
. McHale also created "Canadian Advocates for Charter Equality (CANACE)."
Personal Life
McHale was born in Caledonia, and spent most of his life in Napanee, Ontario and Richmond Hill, OntarioRichmond Hill, Ontario
Richmond Hill is a town located in Southern Ontario, Canada in the central portion of York Region, Ontario. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area, being located about halfway between Toronto and Lake Simcoe...
, where he worked as a bookseller. He and his family have rented a house in Caledonia the past three years.
Role in the Caledonia land dispute
McHale organizes rallies at the site of an Aboriginal occupation in southwestern Ontario. Actions have included the attempted removal in 2006 of Aboriginal flags with the aim of replacing them with Canadian flags, for which he was arrested to prevent a breach of the peace. He stated that police ignored Aboriginals who broke the law at the site. McHale was not charged but was held in jail overnight and had to appear in court in Hamilton. The crown attorney, the duty counsel and the justice of the peace registered surprise that McHale had been held overnight without charges. "We have no jurisdiction against this man," Justice of the Peace Kerry Boone stated.McHale's protests have been described as antics in the national media and OPP Police Commissioner Julian Fantino has stated that the Caledonia
Caledonia, Ontario
Caledonia is a small riverside community and former town located on the Grand River in Haldimand County, Ontario, Canada. Haldimand County is in the western part of the Niagara Peninsula, and had a population of 43,280 in 2001. The current mayor of Haldimand County is Ken Hewitt; Caledonia is...
protests were "counterproductive".
On November 8, 2007, OPP Police Commissioner reported to Hamilton Spectator newspaper that McHale's rallies have cost over a $500,000 to police. According to the newspaper, 22 OPP police officers filed a $7.2 million lawsuit against McHale for defaming them on his website. "McHale criticized the OPP officers who stopped him from hanging Canadian flags near the occupied site saying they were violating their oath of office." The photos of all the 22 police officers were also posted on the site under the heading "OPP: Hang your heads in shame," saying each one of them had violated their oath of office, the statement of claim said. 'The lawsuit comes as Fantino is being investigated by the province for an e-mail he sent to Caledonia politicians, suggesting they supported McHale's rallies.' Court papers of the lawsuit.
McHale was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit mischief during a native smoke shop protest that turned violent in December 2007. As part of his bail conditions, McHale was barred from Caledonia and banned from communicating with certain individuals. Haldimand County, Ontario
Haldimand County, Ontario
Haldimand is a rural city-status single-tier municipality on the Niagara Peninsula in Southern Ontario, Canada, on the north shore of Lake Erie, and on the Grand River. Municipal offices are located in Cayuga....
mayor Marie Trainer
Marie Trainer
Marie Trainer, born circa 1946 , is the outgoing mayor of Haldimand County, Ontario, Canada after having been defeated on October, 25th 2010 by Mayor Elect Ken Hewitt. Hewitt finished with 6,984 votes, Trainer 5,748 and third place finisher Buck Sloat with 2,929 in unofficial final results...
and Haldimand—Norfolk—Brant
Haldimand—Norfolk—Brant
Haldimand—Norfolk—Brant was a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1997 to 2004...
MPP Toby Barrett
Toby Barrett
Toby Barrett is a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario representing the district of Haldimand—Norfolk for the Progressive Conservative Party....
spoke out in his defence.
McHale’s basic message has been that the OPP (Ontario Provincial Police) "two tier policing" policies cause officers to stand by and watch as native protesters commit crimes against local residents. This message has been echoed by local politicians and residents during a convoy to Queen’s Park, the provincial capital.
McHale, who represents himself in court, started a campaign of laying criminal charges against native protesters when the OPP refuse to do so. He has been successful in laying extortion, mischief and intimidation charges against two key native protesters and also won a judicial review case against the OPP for their refusal to appear in court when summoned by a subpoena. Some have stated that “McHale is filling a vacuum. Although the OPP has been investigating, no charges have resulted.”
Political career
McHale ran as an independent against ConservativeConservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
Cabinet Minister Diane Finley
Diane Finley
Diane Finley, PC, MP is a Canadian politician. She serves as Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development in the cabinet of Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Of the 12 MPs in the Priorities and Planning Committee of cabinet , known as the inner cabinet, she is the only woman...
in Haldimand--Norfolk in the 2008 Federal election
Canadian federal election, 2008
The 2008 Canadian federal election was held on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 40th Canadian Parliament after the previous parliament had been dissolved by the Governor General on September 7, 2008...
. He came in fourth with 10% of the vote.