Policy is complex. Politics – at least at a fundamental level – is simple. Politicians who are fundamentally open-minded and empathetic make good representatives. Those who aren’t, don’t.
This brings us to Senator Lynn Beyak, an official who would apparently welcome the reduced heating costs generated by an approaching asteroid.
We pointedly ignored Beyak’s bizarre diatribe on the bright side of residential schools but can’t ignore the disingenuous defence mounted by her Conservative colleagues.
Instead of addressing a crime that spanned both generations and the country, from Newfoundland to the spot St. Thomas Aquinas stands today, her colleagues reminded us of the merits of free speech.
We fear that defence masks either tacit agreement or a refusal to support policy that reduces Canada’s titanic inequality.
For instance: chronic federal under-funding is likely the reason indigenous children are about 17 times more likely to be in care than a non-indigenous child, according to B.C.’s Representative for Children.
For instance: while one out of 20 Canadians is aboriginal, one out of four Canadian prisoners is aboriginal. Aboriginal women comprise about 35 per cent of prison population – which is what the Senate was supposed to be talking about when Beyak changed the subject.
Let’s stop changing the subject. Let’s stop pretending that yesterday’s crimes have no impact on today and let’s dare not talk about forgiveness unless we’re willing to acknowledge wrongdoing and to atone for our ancestors’ crimes.
In the aftermath of her comments, Beyak was quoted as saying: “Everything I said yesterday is just as relevant today.”
On that, sadly, we agree.
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