Just hours before native protester Dudley George was shot dead by police at Ipperwash Provincial Park, former Ontario premier was heard yelling that he wanted "the fucking Indians out of the park."

Former attorney general Charles Harnick told a public inquiry into the incident Monday that as he walked into a meeting attended by Ontario Provincial Police officer Ron Fox, he heard Harris make the comment in anger.

"As I walked into the dining room, the premier in a loud voice said, 'I want the fucking Indians out of the park,'" Harnick told the inquiry.

"I was at that point just taking my seat. I didn't hear who had spoken previously to evoke that comment, but then there was complete silence in the room."

Harnick said "he was stunned'' by what he thought was a "wrong and inappropriate comment."

But the premier's demeanour then changed, Harnick notes, as he appeared to regret his comments.

"Certainly my impression was that the premier had said something . . . in anger. He knew what he said was wrong," Harnick testified.

"The premier broke the silence in a very calm voice, indicating that once the occupiers were able to get into the park, he didn't believe there was any way that they could be removed from the park. His demeanour changed, he became quiet."

Later, in cross-examination, Harris's lawyer Peter Downard challenged Harnick's testimony, saying his client will deny using those words when he testifies in January.

"You are the first to say that the inappropriate statement was made; does that give you any pause?" Downard asked.

"I heard what I heard," the former attorney general replied.

"Do you know how difficult this has been for me?" he added, "I have nothing but admiration for the premier. I've agonized over this.''

Harnick added he was unaware police were present at the meeting and that he didn't believe the meeting had any influence "in terms of actions the OPP may have taken.''

He said that at no time did Harris advocate the use of armed force to remove the occupiers. And he said the premier agreed by the end of the meeting the best course of action was to get an injunction to end the standoff.

The inquiry is trying to determine why a two-day standoff at Ipperwash Park in September, 1995, ended in violence.

In particular, inquiry head Sidney Linden wants to know the extent to which Harris and his government interfered with the police handling of the standoff.

Native protester Dudley George was shot when police moved on protesters occupying the Park. George and other aboriginals were protesting over native rights to the land and the aboriginal burial ground located there.

George died a few hours later.

Fox has testified at the inquiry that he believed Ontario's then-Conservative government were "in love with guns."

Fox described Harris and the government as "barrel suckers" and "a real redneck government.''

OPP officer Kenneth Deane of the paramilitary tactics and rescue unit was convicted of criminal negligence for firing the two bullets that killed George.

That decision was upheld in January 2002 by the Supreme Court of Canada. Deane was ordered off the OPP in disgrace.

Ten years after the Ipperwash incident, the park remains closed to the public, with ownership of the land still in dispute.