Menu

Lynn Beyak

Allegations Cast Doubt On Beyak’s Anti-Racism Training

, , , ,

There’s more criticism of Lynn Beyak’s anti-racism education, this time centered around her trainer.

The Coalition to Remove Lynn Beyak from the Senate says there are new allegations casting doubt on the validity and quality of the Dryden Senator’s training. The group is made up of First Nations leaders, residential school survivors, and community members.

Dr. Johnathan Black-Branch was the Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Manitoba when he designed and led the training sessions in late May of this year. He no longer holds that position.

A group of University of Manitoba-affiliated lawyers recently sent a letter to the Law Society of Manitoba questioning Black-Branch’s “honesty, trustworthiness and competency” surrounding misuse of funding.

Coalition spokesperson and Anishinaabe lawyer Danielle Morrison indicates it’s disappointing.

“It is unfortunate that a process that was meant to bring justice and healing for all involved is now tainted by seemingly unethical behavior of those at the top. Survivors, our community and our nations deserve better,” Morrison says.

Coalition member Garnet Angeconeb adds the latest developments are ringing alarm bells for him.

“As a survivor of the Indian residential schools’ system, I remain perplexed and angered by the never-ending issues related to the suspension of Senator Lynn Beyak,” Angeconeb says.

Lynn-Beyak-speaks-at-Senate-before-ousted-May-2019-800x450-1

Ethics Report Calls For Lifting Of Lynn Beyak’s Suspension

, , ,

Dryden Senator Lynn Beyak may soon be heading back to the Upper Chamber.

The Senate ethics committee is recommending that Beyak’s February 27th second suspension be lifted as soon as the Senate adopts their final report.

It outlines Beyak has taken the required anti-racism training and apologized for posting derogatory letters about Indigenous Peoples on her website.

The report goes on to say Beyak has acknowledged past wrong-doings regarding her conduct.

It states she has successfully participated in and completed all aspects of a four-day educational program as required and is willing to work towards and furthering her understanding of her responsibility as a senator to educate herself on Indigenous history and minority rights.

Here is the final recommendations from the Senate ethics committee:

In light of the above, your committee recommends:

-That the Senate rescind the suspension of Senator Beyak, as ordered on February 27, 2020; and that, for greater certainty, her suspension end on the day on which this report is adopted by the Senate;

-That the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration be empowered to take any action it considers appropriate to implement Senator Beyak’s return to office; and

-That, in accordance with section 2.9 of the Members of Parliament Retiring Allowances Act, the entitlement to accrue pensionable service for Senator Beyak be reinstated as of the day on which this report is adopted by the Senate.

A link to the full ruling is available at https://sencanada.ca/content/sen/committee/431/CONF/Reports/CONF_ThirdReport_e.pdf

beyak-1-1

KDSB Calls For Resignation Of Lynn Beyak

, , ,

The Kenora District Services Board is calling for the resignation of Dryden Senator Lynn Beyak.

The Board of Directors passed a resolution Thursday to elevate awareness regarding the “harm, devastation” and continued impacts that the legacy of the Indian Residential School system is having on communities and Indigenous peoples.

It was also brought forward in response to the challenging public discussions taking place as a result of recent words and actions of Beyak.

In a statement, KDSB Chair Barry Baltessen stated “We acknowledge that this is a unique situation and unprecedented for the District Services Board to provide such a resolution. We believe it is important for our community leaders, Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler and Grand Council Treaty #3 (GCT#3) Ogichidaa Francis Kavanaugh to know that we stand with them in their fight against racism and bigotry.”

He adds “There is a reason our region has such high rates of homelessness, poverty and poor health. There is a reason that our youth experience such high rates of addictions and suicides. These rates will continue if our governments and community leaders do not address the impacts of Colonialism.”

The resolution from the Board of Directors asks Senator Beyak to “act honorably and in the interest of the people and step down from her role as Senator.”

Beyak was suspended a second time after she didn’t follow through with cultural sensitivity training and has since apologized for her actions.

The KDSB move is seen as an important one as it works with others to form an All Nations Health Team as well as other partnerships with area First Nations to develop community based homelessness, poverty and childcare strategies.

councilmon-2-1

Lynn Beyak Resignation Motion Voted Down

, ,

Dryden Council has struck down a motion calling for the resignation of local Senator Lynn Beyak.

The resolution was defeated 5-2 at a virtual Council meeting Monday.

Shayne MacKinnon brought forward the three page resolution, citing disrespectful, divisive and unacceptable comments.

“I find myself repeatedly offended by the conduct of Senator Lynn Beyak and feel a strong sense of duty in brining this resolution forward.”

MacKinnon says “Her prolonged belief that her public opinion on Residential Schools was not hateful or hurtful. Her refusal to remove racist letters from her website, even after being removed from Caucus. Being suspended and facing further sanctions.”

MacKinnon went on to say “The fact that the Senator reports herself to be a voice for our community and has publically stated that no racism exists in our region, is not only false, but flies in the face of the Truth and Reconciliation report. Many of us on Council are life-long residents of this community and have witnessed systemic as well as targeted acts of racism. But now I am proud to say that we stand shoulder-to-shoulder in our efforts to reverse those acts and fight racism in Dryden. We have committed to a strategic priority which states ‘Continue to foster positive relationships with Indigenous peoples and neighbouring First Nations communities.'”

Dave McKay also supported the motion.

“Those of us who undertake elected office or are political appointees must understand that our words and actions have impact. I feel as a Councillor we have an obligation and a responsibility to ensure all people feel welcome and safe in our community.”

All on Council stressed the comments and opinions of Senator Beyak don’t reflect their beliefs.

However, Martin MacKinnon, Norm Bush and Mayor Greg Wilson all abstained from the vote.

Bush says “This motion has no place at the Municipal Council table. No way, shape or form is this City business and just because Councillor MacKinnon and Councillor McKay want to make it City business and say it should be, doesn’t make it so. Any code of conduct or ethical issues surrounding a Canadian Senator is clearly a Federal government and Canadian Senate issue.”

He notes there are many more important issues to deal with as a Council in our community.

Martin MacKinnon says “I believe that this is a Federal government issue and should be dealt with by the Federal government. If there way of dealing with it is weak, that’s their problem, they should be fixing the problems they have at their level. I’ll go as far as to say that the Senate has become archaic and should move on too.”

Mayor Wilson says “It wouldn’t really accomplish anything and it’s kind of above my pay grade. This is really a Federal issue and I prefer to focus on the affairs of the City rather than discuss these politically divisive matters that really shouldn’t be in our municipal court here.”

John Carlucci and Michelle Price voted against the motion.

Carlucci says “The Senate Ethics Committee has started the process in regards to Senator Beyak and that process that they have put in place must be respected and it must go forward to whatever outcome. I as a Councillor have no control over that outcome.”

Price stresses “Her (Beyak) words are not the voice of this community. She is not a Councillor of the City of Dryden. Therefore does not represent the voice of the City of Dryden. For myself I will continue to concentrate on making our community a better place to live in and to raise a family for all people.”

Senator Lynn Beak has since publically apologized for her comments.

In early 2020, the Standing Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators again recommended that Senator Beyak be suspended without pay for the remainder of the parliamentary session.

Lynn-Beyak-speaks-at-Senate-before-ousted-May-2019-800x450-1-1

Lynn Beyak Suspended A Second Time

,

Controversial Dryden Senator Lynn Beyak won’t be getting a paycheck for the rest of this parliamentary session.

The Senate of Canada has agreed to suspend Beyak for a second time without pay.

This after she refused to take the mandated anti-racism training the last time she was suspended from the Upper Chamber.

Beyak did apologize Tuesday for failing to take down offensive letters about the residential school system on her website.

However, a majority of First Nations leaders publicly dismissed her apology and demanded her removal from the Senate.

A report from the Senate Ethics Committee suggested she not receive any remuneration or reimbursement of expenses, including any living allowances, and that she be denied access to Senate resources, including office space.

There was no standing vote in the Wednesday decision as the report was adopted “on division”, meaning there was some opposition in the chamber.

A statement reads the suspension will allow Beyak to complete the prescribed training and take time to think about the harm she did to Indigenous people by posting racist letters on her website.

Frances-Kavanaugh-1

Beyak Apology ‘Too Little, Too Late’

, , ,

Too little, too late – that’s the feeling of Grand Council Treaty #3 about Senator Lynn Beyak’s apology.

The northwestern Ontario senator apologized in the senate on Tuesday about her refusal to take down offensive letters about the residential school system on her website.

Despite that, Grand Council Treaty #3 Grand Chief Frances Kavanaugh says Beyak missed many opportunities to demonstrate the was truly sorry for her previous actions.

He adds that the apology seems more driven by her possible suspension from the senate.

Kavanaugh says he has not received any correspondence from Beyak to apologize for her actions, and that she has never asked to visit any Treaty #3 communities to listen and learn first hand about the residential school system.

Independent senators want Beyak to be suspended for a second time despite her apology.

lynn-beyak-screenshot-800x450-5

Dryden Council Notice Of Motion To Condemn Senator Beyak

, , ,

A Notice of Motion has been filed by a Dryden Councillor to condemn the conduct and statements by Dryden Senator Lynn Beyak.

It was put forward by Shayne MacKinnon.

The motion will be included in the next council meeting that will take place on March 23rd where it will be discussed.

MacKinnon says he has spoken with other regional councillors about the issue and he agrees with what they have put forward.

The original call for resignation came from a group of young councillors across Northwestern Ontario that are troubled with the way Beyak represents the region.

He also says many reports reference Beyak as a Senator from Dryden and he feels concern about her speaking on behalf of the people in the city.

The resolution contains many points including that the Senator’s actions are misrepresentative of the City’s trajectory and its progress, and numerous indigenous organizations have called for her resignation as well.

The full resolution can be found below.

Resolution Censuring the Co… by Rayson Martyn on Scribd

lynn-beyak-screenshot-800x450-4

Young Councillors Call For Removal Of Beyak

, ,

A coalition of local leaders is calling on the Senate to take immediate action surrounding Dryden’s Lynn Beyak.

The group of councillors has issued a statement on their own behalf.

It states “Enough is enough. If this Senator will not resign, we call on the Senate to do everything in its power to vacate her seat so that the privilege of serving in the Red Chamber may be extended to an individual who is capable of standing with the people of our region, advancing their priorities, and honourably representing Northwestern Ontario in Parliament.”

The statement is in response to a Senate Standing Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest report that Beyak hasn’t sufficiently complied with measures put in place by the Senate to address so-called racist behaviour.

It was released by Fort Frances Councillor Douglas Judson.

The statement has also been endorsed by Joe Cassidy (Sioux Lookout), Daniel Sutton (Ear Falls), Kirsi Ralko (Kenora), Andrew Nisley (Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls), Shelby Ch’ng (Thunder Bay) and Cody Fraser (Thunder Bay).

Here is the full statement:

“We are councillors in Northwestern Ontario. We make this statement on our own behalf.

“Collectively, we are a caucus of the youngest municipal representatives in the region, and as such, we are uniquely positioned to comment on the aspirations and challenges of our communities, and the bonds which must be strengthened between all treaty people who share this territory.

“Today we come together to speak out on an issue which continues to sow shame in our region, to bring disrepute to our communities, and to signal-boost racism in our midst. It is an issue which deserves a forthright response from all political leaders who share the honour of representing the Northwest.

“In March 2019, the Senate Ethics Officer released a report concluding that Senator Lynn Beyak had breached Senate rules by posting letters on her Senate website that contained racist content targeting Indigenous people. The content of those letters and the Senator’s remarks defending them have been widely publicized and variously attributed to the Senator from Dryden or Northwestern Ontario.

“The Senate suspended Senator Beyak for the remainder of the last Parliament. Since then, it has come to light in a new report from the Senate’s Standing Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest that the Senator has not sufficiently complied with the measures put in place by the Senate to address her behaviour.

“Disturbing accounts of the Senator’s participation in an Indigenous cultural sensitivity training session have emerged which cast serious doubt on her willingness to learn and accept the facts and lived experiences of Indigenous people, or to recognize that racism persists in our region and across Canada.

“We can assure the Senator that racism exists in Northwestern Ontario. It is the job of local leaders to use their offices to confront it with uncompromising principles of inclusion, human dignity, respect, and truth. And as elected representatives for this region, it is our honour to do so, as part of our commitment to build community.

“Engaging in the process of reconciliation and strengthening relationships with local First Nation and Métis communities helps our communities to move forward. We take exception to the unelected Senator’s ongoing use of a privileged and well-compensated public office to undermine those efforts. The Senator’s conduct has been out-of-step with the future and identity we see for the region, and dismissive of the central and welcomed role that Indigenous communities and young people have in the economic, civic, and social fabric of Northwestern Ontario.

“At a time when many communities and worthy causes across our region are in need of leadership and voice on the national stage, it is simply no longer acceptable for Senator Beyak to squander her office and its resources to cast aspersions on Indigenous people, obscure the reality of racism and those who experience it, and bring disrepute to our region.

“True political leaders are working hard to snuff out hate, to reconcile historical differences, and to plot a positive and honest path forward – one envisioned by the treaty relationships which have allowed our municipalities to thrive in this territory.

“The Senate committee recommends that the Senator be suspended again, but enough is enough. If this Senator will not resign, we call on the Senate to do everything in its power to vacate her seat so that the privilege of serving in the Red Chamber may be extended to an individual who is capable of standing with the people of our region, advancing their priorities, and honourably representing Northwestern Ontario in Parliament.”

Lynn-Beyak-speaks-at-Senate-before-ousted-May-2019-1

Beyak Denies Making Métis Claim

, ,

Canadian Senator and Dryden, Ontario resident Lynn Beyak is denying she ever claimed to be of Métis descent.

She told members of the media through an e-mailed statement that it’s the media that is reporting she is Métis.

The statement goes on to read “Métis are a great people but to be clear: I am not now, never was, and never will be Métis.”

She adds she “never claimed to be Métis at any time, in any way, to anyone, in my life.”

The original reporting of the Métis comment is said to have come out of a report from the Senate’s ethic’s committee, that last week suggested Beyak be suspended again because of her actions and feelings towards Indigenous populations.

Lynn-Beyak-speaks-at-Senate-before-ousted-May-2019-1

Lynn Beyak Back In Ottawa

, ,

Dryden’s Lynn Beyak is back in the Senate.

She was suspended by her colleagues in May for the remainder of the Parliamentary session.

Earlier this year the Senate Ethics Officer ruled she breached two sections of the Senate Code of Ethics when she posted letters to her Senate website which were deemed racist by two fellow members who complained about them.

One of those letters called into question whether Indian Residential Schools were harmful.

After an inquiry, which lasted much of 2018 and into this year, the ethics office concluded Senator Beyak did not uphold the highest standards of her position.

The suspension was only in effect until the new government was elected in October.

She has no party affiliation in the red chamber since the Conservative Party removed her from caucus last fall.