Calls mount for Dauphin trustee’s removal

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This article was published 26/04/2024 (714 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The furor over a presentation made by a Mountain View School Division trustee continued on Thursday, with more Indigenous groups joining the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs’ call for his removal after making comments they consider racist.

On top of that, Education Minister Nello Altomare told the media in a Thursday afternoon interview that he has ordered a governance review of the division over the presentation, which he said he was disappointed in.

Groups and individuals either calling for Coffey’s removal or denouncing his remarks include the Northwest Métis Council, the Southern Chiefs’ Organization, the Anishinaabe Nation in Treaty 2 Territory, Dauphin Mayor Brian Bosiak and the Manitoba Teachers’ Society.

At the April 22 school board meeting in Dauphin, Ward 2 trustee Paul Coffey spoke for about half an hour on the subject “Racism and anti-racism: nice until it isn’t.”

During that presentation, Coffey, who said he has Indigenous ancestry, defended the residential school system, referred to Indigenous people as “Indians,” said the concept of white privilege was racist and criticized land acknowledgements.

AMC Grand Chief Cathy Merrick called Wednesday for Coffey’s removal from the board and the AMC demanded that the provincial government provide anti-racism training for those involved in the public education system.

At 9 p.m. Wednesday, the Governing Council and Ogichidaa of Anishinaabe Nation in Treaty 2 Territory issued a release through social media condemning Coffey’s remarks.

“We call for Trustee Coffey’s immediate removal from the school board,” the release said.

“Furthermore, we urge a comprehensive review of board members’ positions to ensure alignment with reconciliation efforts. One must ask what is worse, Trustee Coffey’s offensive remarks or the complicit silence of others in the room.”

In a statement posted on Facebook on Wednesday afternoon, Northwest Métis Council vice-president Frances Chartrand said Coffey’s comments were “a direct assault on the tremendous work and efforts of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.”

“The Northwest Métis Council … believes in the importance of education ensuring that children of all races and nationalities learn the truth,” the statement said.

“Our children are the leaders of tomorrow and it is our duty to pave the way to a prosperous and healthy future where all people are equal and are treated as such. We trust that Mountain View School Division does not support Paul Coffey’s views and will take appropriate measures to rectify the situation.”

On Thursday morning, the Southern Chiefs’ Organization issued a statement also calling for Coffey’s removal.

“It is with a combination of sadness and disgust that I listened to this trustee’s ignorant and dangerous rhetoric,” said SCO Grand Chief Jerry Daniels.

“Along with absolutely denouncing and rejecting his comments, SCO is also calling for Mr. Coffey’s resignation as trustee for the MVSD. Alternatively, SCO is calling to have him removed for spewing racism and hate.”

The statement said SCO was sending an open letter to Altomare calling for Coffey’s removal. The organization is also calling for an investigation into the events of Monday’s meeting and for other trustees to openly denounce Coffey’s remarks.

Speaking with members of the media through Microsoft Teams on Thursday, Altomare said he shares “a lot of the concerns of many Manitobans with this presentation.”

However, he stopped short of advocating for Coffey’s removal.

“We’re initiating a governance policy review of what’s going on in Mountain View to help them along a path,” Altomare said. “Once we have the results of that review, we’ll have more to say about it.”

He said the review would make sure that the division is following Manitoba Education’s policies, especially surrounding safe and inclusive schools, and that a meeting with the division has been set up for this afternoon.

As for the AMC’s request for anti-racism training, Altomare said his department is already working on a policy in that vein and said the assembly and other interested parties would be consulted.

While Bosiak did not call for Coffey’s removal in a statement posted on the City of Dauphin’s website on Wednesday, he echoed the Northwest Métis Council’s remarks on how the presentation affected efforts toward reconciliation.

“We are deeply concerned by the remarks made, which do not reflect the values of inclusiveness and culture we strive to uphold in our community,” Bosiak said. “These comments are contrary to our ongoing efforts to foster an environment where everyone, regardless of background, ethnicity, or orientation, feels valued and respected.”

Nathan Martindale, president of the Manitoba Teachers’ Society, said in a statement posted to the union’s website that while the MTS believes in the right to free speech, attempts to “warp or rewrite histories” must be opposed.

He drew a link between Coffey’s presentation and recent efforts to ban books in school libraries, like Brandon experienced last year.

“Individuals with views such as those expressed by Trustee Coffey have no place on our school boards, or anywhere else,” Martindale said. “A school board trustee byelection in Mountain View is imminent, and the result of that process is of the greatest importance.”

Attempts to reach Coffey and board chair Gabe Mercier through the school division office were unsuccessful and emails sent to them requesting interviews went unanswered.

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