Mayor wants Senator Lynn Beyak to resign over 'incredibly ignorant' comments

Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman saysConservative Senator Lynn Beyakshould resign for suggesting Indigenous Canadians are not citizens.

"A Canadian senator s/d know who Canadian citizens are," Bowman tweeted Thursday, adding the hashtag "#resign."

In an open letterpublished on Beyak's website, the senator suggested Indigenous Canadians exchange their status for citizenship.

"Trade your status card for a Canadian citizenship, with a fair and negotiated payout to each Indigenous man, woman and child in Canada, to settle all the outstanding land claims and treaties, and move forward together just like the leaders already do in Ottawa," Beyak wrote in the letter, dated Sept. 1.

• Senator Lynn Beyak says First Nations should give up status cards

Later in the morning, Bowman told reporters gathered at the Manitoba Legislature that Beyak's comments are "terribly damaging" to reconciliation effortsand she should resign.

"The comments should offend all Canadians," Bowman said. "They're comments in this day and age that are not helpful for reconciliation efforts."

• Senator Lynn Beyak says she doesn't need 'any more education' on residential schools
• Senator Lynn Beyak stands by residential school remarks, cites 'fake news'
• Tory senator wants to put 'focus on the good' done by residential school system

Bowman said he is shocked a Canadian senator could be "so incredibly ignorant" about who is and is not a Canadian citizen.

"She clearly needs to be better educated and I hope she gets that education on who Canadian citizens are as well as matters pertaining to our Indigenous community."

The mayor later said he's never called on a public official to resign before.

Beyak is also facing backlash from her own caucus. The Conservative leader in the Senate, Larry Smith, distanced himself from the Tory senator on Thursday and said he's taking steps to address her role in the caucus.

• Sen. Lynn Beyak's position in question after latest remarks about First Nations

"The personal opinions expressedby Sen. LynnBeyakdo not reflect the positions of the Senate Conservative caucus. Accordingly, we have taken additional steps to address Sen.Beyak'songoing role within our caucus,"Smith said in a statement.

In March, Beyak defended the residential schoolsystem in Canada in comments condemned by Sen. Murray Sinclair, the former head of Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Mayor wants Senator Lynn Beyak to resign over 'incredibly ignorant' comments

7 years ago

Duration 1:43

Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman says Conservative Senator Lynn Beyak should resign for suggesting Indigenous Canadians are not citizens.