The NDP and some residential school survivors are calling on Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford to resign.
Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa says there are a number of issues including his support for Kenora lawyer Doug Keshen, who had to appear before the law society for his handling of residential school payments.
“The fact that he supported Keshen as a character witness, is that he took the side against survivors,” says Mamakwa.
“How can he say that he walks with survivors today.”
Garnet Angeconeb from Lac Seul First Nation says they don’t feel comfortable with Rickford taking a lead role in the search of former residential school grounds.
“I really have to question how sincere is this government on reconciliation moving forward. They have to go into these discussions, into the reconciliation movement with both feet in, not just one.”
NDP leader Andrea Horwath says the concerns of the residential school survivors must be taken seriously.
A statement from Minister Rickford’s office says “Minister Rickford is decades removed from the events that were complained about.”
Every single allegation against the member of this law firm were withdrawn or dismissed.
Any inferences to the minister and these allegations are completely false.”
