Wood Buffalo, Indigenous leaders call on councillor to resign for 'hateful' comments
CBC
Indigenous leaders and Wood Buffalo council are calling for the resignation of Coun. Dogar Shafiq over comments he made about Indigenous people during a budget meeting.
On Thursday, a motion was presented asking administration to investigate how the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo might improve awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
According to a statement from Mayor Sandy Bowman, Shafiq stated he didn't support the motion because Indigenous people come to Fort McMurray to get drunk, fight or have other legal issues.
The recording of the meeting held in Fort McMurray is not yet public.
Bowman condemned Shafiq, calling his comments "unacceptable, incorrect and difficult to comprehend."
In a special council meeting on Friday, Bowman read out the names of the missing and murdered Indigenous women from the Fort McMurray area.
"These [women] were not drunks that lost their way," Bowman said, becoming emotional.
Shafiq responded.
"Really it is getting pathetic why the people are emotional because the wrong narrative was given," he said.
Shafiq has asked for the municipality to release the recording of the budget meeting.
After Thursday's meeting, Shafiq posted a statement on Facebook apologizing for what he calls a miscommunication.
Shafiq said he was trying to make a point that people in rural communities are more likely to die due to the lower accessibility of medical services.
"In my mind, I didn't equate Indigenous community with alcoholism or any bad actions," he said. "It was merely an example that popped into my mind and now I realize I was wrong in using that example."
On Friday, municipal councillors asked Shafiq to resign and directed the chief administrative officer to file a complaint with the integrity commissioner.
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