Canada’s Senate (according to its own description) is to deliver this: “The Senate’s fundamental role is to be a complementary legislative body to the elected House of Commons in providing sober second thought.”
And it adds this: “The Senate has become an important institution for the representation of minority interests and groups who may be underrepresented in the elected chamber (such as Indigenous peoples, minority language and ethnic groups, and women).”
That last official claim makes us wonder — along with angry First Nations leaders — about how and why Prime Minister Trudeau has moved to appoint broadcaster Charles Adler to be a senator representing Manitoba.
The prime minister said of Adler: “Throughout his career he has used his platform to champion human rights.”
But Adler’s past comments have drawn fire from First Nations leaders in Manitoba. We won’t repeat all of Adler’s comments here – they are reported in various media outlets – but he did complain that Indigenous people “want a free ride through life” and should “get a job”.
Grand Chief Cathy Merrick of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, called Adler’s appointment “a grave insult”.
And Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation Chief Angela Levasseur said: “It’s appalling that someone who has such a disregard for the plight of our people is appointed to such a prestigious position. The vile words and contempt he has spoken are so vicious and racist they could be considered hate crimes.”
As CEO of the First Nations LNG Alliance, and a former chief of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation, it’s very disappointing when we see government moving backward instead of forward. There are so many positive examples to celebrate yet it’s so disappointing when decisions like this turn the clock back.
You could say the senate doesn’t matter. Who cares? But we should care when our leaders make calculated decisions that are the opposite of reconciliation. What better measure of government’s commitment to reconciliation than the people it chooses deliberately to make our laws?
Imagine a positive scenario where a senator champions Indigenous economic reconciliation, Indigenous equity in projects, capacity building for Indigenous communities, and champions equality of economic opportunity for all Indigenous peoples. We want to own our future, not be owned. We want allies in reconciliation, not those who’s past comments prove otherwise.
The appointment is especially vexing when the prime minister needed to look no further than the premier of Manitoba Wab Kinew for inspiration. As the first Indigenous premier of a province in Canada, he is an important role model for Canadians. There are many other inspirational leaders that can help unite us, in Manitoba, and across Canada, given the chance.
The Alliance echoes those who say that Charles Adler shouldn’t be in the senate. He may repent and apologize, but that doesn’t mean he should be handpicked to be one of 105 senators for all of Canada.
It’s up to prime minister now to have his own “sober second thought” and to tell Adler to “get a job” — just not in the senate.
