OTTAWA – Sen. Lynn Beyak has denied being asked by Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer to remove a series of controversial letters from her website that agree with views on residential schools.
The Dryden senator, who last week was booted by Scheer from the Conservative Senate caucus, said there was no contact at all with the party leader.
“Contrary to his statement that he asked me to remove content and I refused, neither I nor my staff every spoke with Andrew Scheer or anyone from his office at any time,” Beyak said in a release issued on Monday.
“Talking points from his office also declared: ‘Senator Beyak admitted that she intentionally posted racist correspondence about Indigenous Canadians to her Parliamentary website.’ That statement is completely false. I would never say or do such a thing.”
Beyak drew the ire of Canada’s Indigenous community last year with a pair of inflammatory statements that indicated she believes some good came out of the failed residential school system and later suggested that Aboriginals should trade in their status cards for citizenship cards.
Scheer focused on one letter in particular, which suggested Indigenous people have milked the system for handouts and have become “well-schooled in getting media pity.”
Scheer, who has faced criticism for not acting sooner to kick Beyak out of the Conservative caucus, said last week he asked the senator to remove the content and when she did not do so, decided to remove her, saying racism will not be tolerated by the Conservative Caucus or party.
“To suggest that indigenous Canadians are lazy compared to other Canadians is simply racist,” Scheer said, explaining his decision.
Beyak on Monday said she believes her website gives Canadians a voice for free speech and attacked the media for not focusing on alleged ethics violations by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau or former kidnap victim Joshua Boyle – now facing sexual assault charges – and his ties to convicted terrorist Omar Khadr’s family.
“Canadians can read and decide for themselves what is relevant and helpful for a fresh start for those Indigenous people who still suffer, and who live in hopelessness and poverty with inadequate housing and dirty water,” Beyak said.
“Discerning citizens don’t need government to tell them what is allegedly racist.”
Beyak reiterated spending more money to solve the problem won’t worth, saying governments have spent billions over decades, adding that tact isn’t working.
She said she will continue to post “thoughtful ideas, stories, research and wisdom of the people, who recognize enough is enough and it’s time for a change,” and promised to be a voice for freedom of speech.
“Canadians are kind and compassionate, but not stupid. There are not enough tax dollars to fix every mistake from the past.
