Another Apology From Conservatives,
This Time For Racist Remark Toward Aboriginals
Friday September 19, 2008
Alexander Panetta, The Canadian Press
The Conservatives were forced to say sorry Thursday for a careless remark about aboriginal drinking -- the latest apology in a campaign chockablock with mea culpas.
With the election campaign still in its second week, the Tories found themselves apologizing for the fourth time over distasteful incidents.
In this case, it came after aboriginal protesters expressed outrage at what they described as a racist slur by a member of Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon's staff.
The protesters attended an event in Cannon's riding this week and demanded a meeting to discuss local governance issues with the Conservatives' senior Quebec minister.
A member of Cannon's staff was caught on tape responding: "If you behave and you're sober and there's no problems and if you don't do a sit down and whatever, I don't care."
The staff member, Darlene Lannigan, then added: "One of them showed up the other day and was drinking."
The remark was apparently made to Norman Matchewan, a 25-year-old old community school teacher and part-time police officer. He said he didn't know why Lannigan would feel it necessary to mention alcohol, or what incident involving drinking she had been referring to.
He issued a statement Thursday condemning the comment.
"These patronizing, racist remarks from a representative of Cannon are just another example of the Conservative government's disrespect for our community," Matchewan said.
In an interview, he described how a group of about 10 protesters attended Cannon's campaign launch in Maniwaki, Que., and crowded into a small room where the minister was doing media interviews.
He said Cannon left the building without acknowledging their request for a meeting and they followed him outside. That's when Lannigan followed them out and made the comment, he said.
The Algonquin community group spokesman said successive federal governments have reneged on agreements to give the community greater political control over its affairs.
He said residents are also upset that the federal government this year recognized as a legitimate local representative a minority leadership faction with little community support.
The group wants the federal government to monitor local elections and respect the outcome.
Cannon's office apologized for the comments.
A spokeswoman for the minister said the remark was made by a riding office employee and it did not reflect the views of the government of Canada.
She also said the minister's staff had agreed to meet with the protesters later this week.
"We would like to take this opportunity to apologize for any offence given," said Cannon spokeswoman Catherine Loubier.
"We also understand these comments were made in a difficult context. That is regrettable. The good news is that the parties have committed to meet later this week, in a spirit of collaboration."
But Matchewan wasn't pleased.
"We don't want to meet with (Lannigan). We want to meet with Cannon," he said.
"It's hard to accept his apology if he's not going to put it into action. We want him to put his words into action."
And the president of the union of BC Indian Chiefs issued a statement blasting the Conservatives.
"We are absolutely outraged and deeply angered by the blatantly racist remarks uttered by Conservative MP Lawrence Canon's personal assistant," said Grand Chief Stewart Phillip in the statement. "Such highly offensive remarks only serve to further poison the brittle relationship between Aboriginal People and the Harper government."
