McCrae takes heavy flak at forum

A school trustee candidate who previously made public statements diminishing the impact of Indian Residential Schools denies ever writing or saying anything harmful.

Jim McCrae, who’s registered in Brandon School Division’s Ward 1, received criticism from the public and other trustee candidates during a public forum held Tuesday evening in the Evans Theatre at Brandon University.

“My writings and anything I’ve ever said have consistently acknowledged and regretted the awful problems the residential schools have caused to Indigenous children,” said McCrae, a former Progressive Conservative cabinet minister and city councillor.

“Residential school denialist. I was accused of that because I was bringing forward a proposal to bring a vote to the school library,” McCrae said. “Anybody who knows me at all, knows that I haven’t got a hateful bone in my body.”

Candidate and incumbent vice-chair Duncan Ross said McCrae had written things that are “not something I would recommend anyone read.”

“I can tell you that all the sitting trustees on this board, almost all of them have received probably close to 100 emails from Mr. McCrae,” Ross said.

McCrae continued to deny that his previous comments and writings were hurtful and encouraged the roughly 50 people who attended the forum to read what he had written.

Some members of the public shouted at McCrae, calling his views “shameful” and “horrible.”

Will Goodon of the Manitoba Métis Federation frequently heckled McCrae during the forum and was instructed to stop by moderator Kerry Auriat.

Incumbent Kim Fallis said she believes it is important that Indigenous perspectives are integrated into schools in Brandon.

“The way the board can assist is by approving time, resources, money for the cost required,” Fallis said.

Funding for the school division was a prominent topic of discussion throughout the forum.

Despite BSD receiving roughly a $5-million increase in provincial funding for the current school year, all of the candidates said lobbying for more funding needs to continue.

Duncan Ross said funding has been a longstanding issue in the division, which can “barely keep the lights on.”

Kirk Carr, who is also seeking re-election, said school infrastructure in particular needs more funding.

“When our buildings are crumbling and we don’t get the funding for it, when our students need resources and they’re not getting it, when we need teachers in the building and we’re not getting them, then there’s a problem with a model to fix it,” Carr said.

Incumbent chair Linda Ross said the board should educate the public.

“We want you to learn how to be advocates for your own children … and I think we need to spend more time helping people to learn how to be good advocates,” she said.

Other topics discussed during the forum included school safety and expanding classroom capacity.

Of the 11 registered candidates, only one, Bill Hogan, did not attend.

Other candidates present at the forum were Shawna Mozdzen, Brad Rusnak, Jaydeep (Jay) Mahida, Hosteen Bungon and acclaimed Ward 2 (rural) candidate Lorraine McConnell.

The forum was hosted by the Brandon Teachers’ Association in partnership with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 737, The Brandon Sun, WCGtv and Brandon University.

Advanced voting for the civic election is on Oct. 14 and Oct. 22 at city hall or on Oct. 17 at the Keystone Centre. Election day is Oct. 28.

» rgerrard@brandonsun.com