THUNDER BAY, ON – Members of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA) Board are calling for Senator Lynn Beyak to resign following her remarks where she stated “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 outstanding land claims and treaties and move forward together just like the leaders already do in Ottawa.”
The NOMA Board expressed disgust noting that the Senator’s comments were beyond ignorant and crossed a line. In a resolution moved by Iain Angus, Councillor, City of Thunder Bay and seconded by Doug Lawrance, Mayor, Municipality of Sioux Lookout, the board supported that NOMA condemn the remarks of Senator Lynn Beyak and request that she resign as senator.
“We as leaders in the northwest, cannot support a senator who at the end of the day is appointed to represent Northwestern Ontario yet makes such ignorant and erroneous remarks,” said Mayor Wendy Landry, NOMA President. “To even refer that the Indigenous people in our country should become Canadian citizens when in fact they already are has crossed a line. We are collectively working toward Truth and Reconciliation in our country and in particular in the Northwest and her comments work against the initiatives currently underway.” said Landry.
The board discussed Beyak’s claims to have met extensively with the Truth and Reconciliation committee in Sioux Lookout where it was noted that she only conducted a three hour meeting with the group and that it became very apparent that the Senator needed to improve her knowledge on indigenous culture, challenges and successes.
“Senator Beyak is not the kind of representative the Northwest wants nor deserves’ concluded Landry.
