Some Tories opt to condemn remarks from fellow MLA instead of premier

A few more members of Brian Pallister's caucus have spoken out about widely condemnedresidential school remarks madeby the new Indigenous reconciliation and northern relations minister, but the MLAsare shyingaway from addressing controversial comments fromManitoba's premier.

CBC surveyed all of Pallister's 35 Progressive Conservative MLAs, including AlanLagimodiere,the newly appointed minister. Only four provided comments,though 10others have posted on social media or previously answered questions from reporters.

The majority of ToryMLAs are opting for silence.

"Going againsttheleader in public is a pretty drastic thing," said Mary Agnes Welch,a principal at Winnipeg polling firm Probe Research. "You lose perks, you lose committee appointments. It's kind of the only arrow you have in your quiver, really."

In the survey, MLAs were asked for their response to the widespread condemnation Pallister has endured for stating the people who came here to this country "didn't come here to destroy anything, they came here to build," and whether they backed those statements.

WATCH |'They didn't come to destroy anything,' premier says:

Manitoba Premier on toppled statues at legislature

3 years ago

Duration 2:47

Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister addressed the toppling of two statues of British queens at Manitoba's legislature on Canada Day.

The politicians were not asked by CBC aboutLagimodiere, who stirred up controversy himself on July 15 when he saidthe people who ran residential schools believed "they were doing the right thing." He apologized the next day.

RadissonMLA James Teitsma, who was among the four MLAs to respond to CBC,saidthe "intentions of those who came before us are important," but their actions matter more.

"We should all be able to agree that removing children from the homes of loving parents without their consent to send them to residential schools was bad. We should all be able to agree that subjecting those children to abuse and neglect was bad,"he said by email.

Tories condemn residential schools

Cathy Cox, minister of sport, culture and heritage,made it clear she opposes residential schools, which sought to "erase a complete culture," she said.

"We must all work together as one to advance reconciliation and right the wrongs of the past," said the Kildonan-River East MLA.

Roblin representative Myrna Driedger said she is prevented from responding to MLA's commentsas the Speaker, but said residential schools "were intended to erase Indigenous language and culture of the children."

"As difficult as it is to hear many of the stories told by survivors, we must hear them because we can only move forward toward true reconciliation by listening, learning and building bridges," Driedger said.

Len Isleifson said he has a duty as Brandon East MLAto advance reconciliation.

"I would like to state that while I may not be responsible for the past, I am on a team that is responsible for the future.That responsibility includes listening and learning so that the history of residential schools never happen again."

Lagimodiere's office referred to a previousstatement that he's busyspeaking with Indigenous communities.

Eileen Clarke, who was replaced by Lagimodiere, declined further comment. In a statement to CBC after her resignation from cabinet, she saidPallister's comments were a factor in her decision.

A statement she made on Facebook after resigning from the post didn't mention Pallister by name, but noted "inappropriate words and actions can be very damaging."

Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichlerdeclined to comment.

Opposition is rarely registered

It has beenrare for any elected official under Pallister's leadership to register opposition of any kind. The premier has fostered a central communications strategy in which dissent staysbehind closed doors.

Welch said political observers havebeenparsingthe language of recent public statements, but they shouldn't be perceived as a massadmonishment.

The turmoil began withPallister's controversial remarks on July 7, as he was trying to soothetensionsafter two statues were toppled on the grounds of the Manitoba Legislature on Canada Day.

"The people who came here to this country before it was a country, and since, didn't come here to destroy anything," the premier said. "They came here to build."

Then Lagimodiere stirredup anger himself on July 15 when he defended the architects of residential schools.

WATCH |Manitoba minister under fire over residential schools comment:

Manitobas new Indigenous reconciliation minister called out for residential school comments

3 years ago

Duration 2:00

On his first day as Manitoba's new Indigenous reconciliation and northern affairs minister, Alan Lagimodiere was publicly taken to task by Opposition leader Wab Kinew for saying that those who once ran residential schools thought they were 'doing the right thing.'

In the days since, some MLAs chose to distance themselves from their colleagues' remarks.

Families Minister Rochelle Squires wroteshe is "deeply troubledby recent events and comments," while on Twitter,Conservation and Climate Minister Sarah Guillemardsaid she could not "stand behind words that add hurt to traumatized people."

McPhillips MLA Shannon Martin tweeted Clarke's resignation was "understandable" and there should be no confusion aboutthe terrible legacy of residential schools.

Most Tory MLAsmaking media appearances in subsequent days have been questioned aboutPallister's remarks. The premier has defended his comments, stating he was paying tribute to the people who built families and communities in Canada and was not referencing colonialism.

The strongest condemnation came from Guillemardlast Friday, who repeated her social media statement she cannot support any statements that bring hurt to already traumatized people, "I don't believe that anyone in their hearts intend[s] to do so, but again, we all need to listen, we all need to learn,and we need to grow together."

When asked if she considers the premier's comments an example of this, Guillemard said, "if thatadded hurt to traumatized people, absolutely."

WATCH | Cabinet minister cannot back hurtful comments:

Sarah Guillemard says she cannot support remarks that cause hurt

3 years ago

Duration 0:32

Conservation and Climate Minister Sarah Guillemard said she stands behind her earlier social media comments and is then asked if she believes recent remarks from Premier Brian Pallister has contributed to causing hurt.

Meanwhile,Mental Health Minister Audrey Gordon said she supported thepremier and Lagimodiere.

Asked for his personal position on Pallister's comments,Infrastructure Minister Ron Schulerdodged the question, statingthePCgovernment is committed to reconciliation and meaningful engagement.

At a media event last Friday, Central Services Minister Reg Helwerand Municipal Relations Minister Derek Johnson didn't answerif they supported Pallister's comments. Helwer said he's learning a great deal about reconciliation and residential schools and Johnson said he's committed to listening, educating himself and learning.

Justice Minister Cameron Friesendeflected similar questions on Tuesday, stating the path forward consists of dialogue as Manitobans reckonwith the country's fraught history.

Welch said most MLAs won't turn on their party leader publicly. "Most MLAs are going to dance with the one that brought them," the pollster said, noting this remains the same party that was re-elected twice with back-to-back majorities.

Comparisonshave been drawn to the waning years of the NDP'sreign, when five dissident ministersrevolted against the leadership ofpremier GregSelinger. A leadership race was conducted, but Selinger held on. Pallister's PCs beat the NDP in the next election in 2016.

With the Tories, there's noimminent signof a brewing rebellion, Welch said.

"Until somebody comes out and says pretty clearly, 'I'velost confidence in my leader and I would like some kind of leadership review orI'm not running again' or something, we are parsing tweets big whoop."

Recent polling from Probe suggeststhe NDPwould win if a provincial election was held now, but a lot can change before the election slated for 2023. Welchsome Tories may be holding onto the hope that Pallister will step down, as he's previously hinted he won't stay on for an entire term.