Tory ex-Speaker draws fire for ‘racist, disgraceful’ social media post

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This article was published 18/12/2023 (666 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A message shared on social media from former Manitoba Speaker of the house Myrna Driedger conflating Palestinian refugees with terrorists has drawn an angry response from NDP leadership.

Premier Wab Kinew penned a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last week saying Manitoba would welcome refugees from Gaza “and provide them with the sanctuary and support they require.”

Driedger was the MLA for Charleswood beginning in 1998 and then, following electoral boundary changes in 2019, for Roblin. She announced her intention in January to retire and was not a candidate in the Oct. 3 provincial election.

In a message posted on X (formerly Twitter) just past midnight Monday, she said Kinew’s offer opens up the possibility of allowing terrorists into Manitoba.

“Manitoba’s NDP Premier announced that he would welcome Palestinians from Gaza with open arms to Manitoba,” she wrote. “How does he plan to vet them so that we aren’t bringing terrorists into our province?”

The provincial NDP declined to comment, but Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine called the statement “just gross” in a reply on X and Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said it was “shameful.”

“This comment is deeply racist, without compassion and completely disgraceful,” Asagwara wrote. “These attitudes within the MB PCs hurt people who are already hurting and ultimately impact all of us.”

“This comment is deeply racist, without compassion and completely disgraceful.”–Uzoma Asagwara

Immigration policy and vetting immigrants into Canada is a federal responsibility.

Driedger stood by her comments Monday afternoon and said they were not racist.

“To call it racist would be absolutely wrong. I feel horrible for the Palestinians who are being mistreated by Hamas,” she said in an email.

“But polls I have seen are showing that a large number of Palestinians support what Hamas has done. What rigour needs to be applied to ensure that refugees coming to Canada do not support Hamas? Just a question that I believe needs to be answered by governments.”

The PC caucus refrained from commenting on the situation, noting that Driedger was no longer a member.

Serving as Speaker from the previous government’s election in 2016 until the writ dropped for October’s election, Driedger worked to revamp policies that would protect politicians and their staff from harassment and bullying.

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca