To the author of the recent letter to the members of council, Integrity Commissioner and Chief Bressette, I read your entire letter. If this was actually about questioning spending, we […]
To the author of the recent letter to the members of council, Integrity Commissioner and Chief Bressette,
I read your entire letter. If this was actually about questioning spending, we probably wouldn’t be having this conversation. That’s a fair discussion to have. People are feeling it right now and every dollar matters.
But your letter doesn’t stay there.
You start with spending, then drift into history, then into ideology, and by the end you’re making comparisons that completely undermine your own argument.
On Treaty 29, yes, it was signed in 1827. That part is correct. But you’re treating it like a clean land sale that settled everything forever. That’s not how it’s understood in Canadian law, and hasn’t been for a long time. Treaties are ongoing agreements. Courts have been clear about that. They didn’t erase Indigenous presence, rights, or voice moving forward.
So framing it as “case closed” is convenient, but it’s not accurate.
Same with UNDRIP.
You’re presenting it like it forces municipalities to ask permission for everything and hands over control. That’s not what it does. It’s about consultation on matters that actually impact Indigenous lands and rights. Not day to day city decisions. Not everything under the sun.
Calling it “ridiculous” doesn’t make it so, it just shows you’re rejecting the premise of working with people instead of around them.
The mural argument is where things really go sideways.
You can hate it. That’s fine. That’s your opinion.
But comparing it to Nazi occupation or calling it a show of dominance? Come on. That’s not a serious argument. That’s you trying to force a narrative that doesn’t fit. Where I may suggest that narrative does fit, is directly in the briefcase of Bill Dennis.
It’s a welcome mural. In a place where Indigenous communities have existed long before this city did. That’s not annexation, and it’s not some kind of power grab.
Then there’s the claim that racism is basically fictitious in 2026.
Not only is that not grounded in reality, it shows who you truly are and how far you have to go in order to have even a simple grasp or basic understanding of a topic you seem to clearly know absolutely nothing about.
There are still very real, very measurable gaps in housing, healthcare, clean water, and incarceration rates for Indigenous communities across this country. You can look that up anywhere. Ignoring it doesn’t make it disappear.
Your housing example misses the mark too.
Targeted housing exists everywhere. Seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, Indigenous communities. It’s not illegal, and it’s not new. It’s meant to address specific needs where they exist. Once again, you don’t have to agree with it, but calling it discriminatory under the Human Rights Act is literally and factually and lawfully incorrect.
And the “I’m not racist, I have Native friends” line… that doesn’t carry any weight. It never has. People will know you by your actions and from where I stand, the picture is crystal clear.
Same goes for taking shots at Chief Bressette over having a home, utilities, internet. That part honestly says more about your argument than hers. Having basic infrastructure in 2026 doesn’t erase history or current issues.
Look, there is a real conversation here about priorities, spending, and how this city moves forward. I agree with that part.
But your letter muddies it and frankly, it reeks of all that is wrong with society. That is coming from a lifelong conservative, who grew up in a Christian home and is to this day a pastor's kid.
It mixes in exaggeration, leaves out context, and leans on comparisons that don't hold up. You say you value logic and honesty, but your letter says the 180, complete opposite.
If we’re going to have this discussion, let’s actually have it properly.
Facts, context, self-awareness and maybe some humility.
That’s how we get somewhere.
Regards,
Shaun Antle
Shaun4Community
Sarnia-Lambton
