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Canada senator kicked out by Conservatives for 'racism' | Canada senator kicked out by Conservatives for 'racism' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Canadian senator Lynn Beyak has been removed from the Conservative Party's caucus months after inflammatory remarks about indigenous people. | Canadian senator Lynn Beyak has been removed from the Conservative Party's caucus months after inflammatory remarks about indigenous people. |
Mrs Beyak has been criticised over the past year for various comments. She posted online letters from supporters who called indigenous people lazy. | Mrs Beyak has been criticised over the past year for various comments. She posted online letters from supporters who called indigenous people lazy. |
Conservative Party leader Andrew Scheer said "racism will not be tolerated". | Conservative Party leader Andrew Scheer said "racism will not be tolerated". |
In Canada, senators are appointed for life and so she will retain voting privileges in Parliament. | In Canada, senators are appointed for life and so she will retain voting privileges in Parliament. |
Last March she defended Canada's residential school system, church-run and government-funded boarding schools where indigenous children were often physically and sexually abused. | Last March she defended Canada's residential school system, church-run and government-funded boarding schools where indigenous children were often physically and sexually abused. |
She said reports on the abuse only focused on the bad and ignored "the good" aspects of the "well-intentioned" institutions. | She said reports on the abuse only focused on the bad and ignored "the good" aspects of the "well-intentioned" institutions. |
Her comments immediately provoked an outcry from indigenous leaders and other Canadians, and many called on her to resign. | Her comments immediately provoked an outcry from indigenous leaders and other Canadians, and many called on her to resign. |
In response, she published "letters of support" on her official Senate website from Canadians who agreed with her statements. | In response, she published "letters of support" on her official Senate website from Canadians who agreed with her statements. |
"I'm no anthropologist but it seems every opportunistic culture, subsistence hunter/gatherers seeks to get what they can for no effort," says one letter from a supporter dated 30 March. | "I'm no anthropologist but it seems every opportunistic culture, subsistence hunter/gatherers seeks to get what they can for no effort," says one letter from a supporter dated 30 March. |
"There is always a clash between industrial/organized farming culture that values effort as opposed to a culture that will sit and wait until the government gives them stuff." | "There is always a clash between industrial/organized farming culture that values effort as opposed to a culture that will sit and wait until the government gives them stuff." |
Mr Scheer said that when the supporter's comments - which had been up since March - came to his attention on Tuesday, he asked her to remove them from her website. | Mr Scheer said that when the supporter's comments - which had been up since March - came to his attention on Tuesday, he asked her to remove them from her website. |
When she refused, he and the Conservative Senate leader decided to remove her from caucus. | When she refused, he and the Conservative Senate leader decided to remove her from caucus. |
"Racism will not be tolerated in the Conservative Caucus or Conservative Party of Canada," he said. | "Racism will not be tolerated in the Conservative Caucus or Conservative Party of Canada," he said. |
"To suggest that indigenous Canadians are lazy compared to other Canadians, is simply racist." | "To suggest that indigenous Canadians are lazy compared to other Canadians, is simply racist." |
Many have criticised Mr Scheer for not acting sooner. | Many have criticised Mr Scheer for not acting sooner. |
Tasked with trying to topple Justin Trudeau's progressive government in 2019, he has tried to portray the Conservative Party as tolerant and open to all. | Tasked with trying to topple Justin Trudeau's progressive government in 2019, he has tried to portray the Conservative Party as tolerant and open to all. |