'I don't quit': Perry Trimper vows to remain as MHA, as Innu Nation says there should be no 3rd chance

Despite calls for his immediate resignation as MHA for Lake Melville, Perry Trimper is vowing to hold his seat until the next election.

"Idon't quit. Imade a commitment to the people of Lake Melville that Iwould serve as their representative, and Iwould do it to the best of my abilities, so Iwill do that," Trimper told CBC Radio's Labrador Morning on Tuesday.

The Innu Nation hascalledon Trimper to quit politics altogether. On Monday, Trimper saidhe was withdrawing as candidate for Lake Melville in the next general election. Trimper also said he was stepping away from hisLiberal caucus roles as a parliamentary secretary and special advisor on climate change to the premier.

That's not enough, saidMaryAnn Nui, the deputy chief of the Innu Nation.

"It really concerns me, because Perry Trimper has not learned anything from the past year,"Nui told CBC News Tuesday afternoon.

In astatement, the Innu Nationsaid Trimper's remainingin caucus is, by default, "acceptance of systemic racism by both the government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador and only serves to demonstrate further failure by Mr. Trimper to take responsibility for his actions."

Trimper, who had little to say at the House of Assembly Monday,refused againTuesdayto address the comments that led to the controversy in the first place.

Last week, Trimper said homeless people in Happy Valley-Goose Bay were "choosing" a risky lifestyle, in the wake of a video that showed a homeless Inuk man being thrown to the ground during an arrest in the town by a municipal enforcement officer.

• Perry Trimper halts re-election bid in wake of comments about homeless people

• MHA says he regrets comment about homeless 'choosing' risky lifestyle in wake of Inuk man's arrest

Trimper has since apologized, but on Tuesday said he would not comment further on the matter, pointing to the statement he released on Monday.

"I'm not going to go into an analysis in this manner, but I'll suffice to say Ido appreciate all those who understand my intentions, my actions, and Ithank them very much for that," Trimper said.

Nui said Trimper's comments point to a serious problem.

"He doesn't understand the impacts that residentialschools had toward Indigenous people of Labrador, which is Innu andInuit. And he has no sensitivity towardIndigenous people of Labrador. To me, that is a very racist remark for what he said," Nui said.

No 'third chance'

In September 2019, Trimperresignedas municipal affairs and environment ministerand apologized after accidentally leaving a conversation with a colleague on a voicemail to an Innu Nationstaff member, in which he complained thatthe Innuwere playing "the race card" against him.

In its statement, the Innu Nation said the 2019 apology was Trimper making "excuses for his behaviour," while the more recent apology "is indicative of his failure to understand systemic racism and a willingness to engage in victim-blaming that renders him incapable of representing Indigenous people."

"Last time Perry Trimper made comments, it was on the voicemail. He said he would learn from it," said Nui.

But Nui said that didn't happen.

"There shouldn't be any third chances. He was given a second chance from the provincial government, and Ithink he failed that."

Nuisaid prior to the recent comments, Innu leaders met with Premier Andrew Fureyto voice their concerns about their elected representative.

"Weraised a concern with Premier Furey about it back in August, and we told Premier Furey that we do not want Perry Trimper to represent Innu Nation at all. And we made it very clear," she said.

The date of the next provincial election has not been set. Nui said sinceTrimper could remain as MHA for months to come, "having him remain as their MHA is not something they can support."

Trimper thankedpeople of his district for their support, and said there has been "a great avalanche of calls, emails, messages, and it's very encouraging."

Crosbie: 'adisgrace'

After question period Tuesday, Education Minister Tom OsborneconfirmedFureyhas spoken with InnuNation Grand Chief Etienne Rich but said he doesn't know the "nature of the discussion."

Furey declined requests to speak to reporters after question period. Opposition leader Ches Crosbie called the decision "a disgrace."

"We have two things going on here in Newfoundland and Labrador right now, and they're foundational to government policy and our existence as a province," Crosbie said.

"One is Indigenous reconciliation that's crumbling and the second is the offshore. That's crumbling. And the premier of the province will not be accountable by coming out and fielding press questions while this is going on. That is a disgrace."

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