Developer hires lawyer in Deseronto land dispute

A Kingston, Ont., developersaid onWednesday that he has hired a lawyer to represent him in relation to an aboriginal land claim dispute in Deseronto, but itis notClayton Ruby.

Tim Letch, president of Intergroup Financing AG, told CBC Newsthat media reports were incorrect in saying he had hired civil rights lawyer Ruby to help him in his attempt to move forward with construction of a housing subdivisionon land in eastern Ontario.

The Mohawks of the nearby Tyendinaga Territoryallegethe land istheirs.

Letch said he has known Ruby for a long time, and approached him for help. Ruby responded that he does not handlethis type of case, so he recommended another Toronto lawyer at a different firmwhom Letch has hired.

Letch said the confusion arose after he mentioned Ruby's name Tuesday at a Belleville function where media were present.

"I'm going to go into a courtroom in a suit and tie, and resolve this," Letch said at the time, the Belleville Intelligencer reported.

"I'm tired, as are the people who actually live in Deseronto…. I want to get this moving along and develop a project to benefit the community at large."

The dispute began in November, when Letch announced plans to begin construction on an 8.5-hectare housing subdivision on a land called the Culbertson Tract, about 26 kilometres east of Belleville.

Mohawks from the nearby Tyendinaga Territory protested, saying the land slated for the subdivision had never been properly surrendered to the government and still belonged to them.

That raised fears that the dispute could escalate into a situation similar to the bitter dispute that has continued for almost 11 months in Caledonia, Ont.

Plans for construction were suspended after the federal government agreed to meet with Mohawk leaders, and recently a federal negotiator was appointed to resolve the land claim.