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Councillor apologizes for arguing against residential school training

Dec 14, 2016 | 1:30 PM

WINNIPEG — A Winnipeg city councillor is apologizing after arguing city employees such as “grass cutters” and “pothole fillers” don’t need sensitivity training on residential schools.

Jeff Browaty spoke out against a training initiative for city workers during a debate Wednesday on adopting 94 recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

In a statement following the debate, Browaty said a half-day training session would take roughly 10,000 people away from their jobs.

“That would equal 5,000 working days people would be away from their jobs and in this training,” stated Browaty, who is also chair of the police services board. “I don’t think it’s necessary for a grass cutter, payroll clerk or pothole filler to take this training.

“I simply don’t see this as the city’s role.”

Instead, he encouraged people to educate themselves about the appalling treatment of Canada’s indigenous community.

“We should be embarrassed by this phase of our history and we shouldn’t sweep it under the rug,” he stated. “I encourage all Winnipeggers to be informed of our past so that we don’t repeat the same mistakes.”

The stance drew ire from fellow city councillors in the chamber and indigenous leaders outside of it.

“Get with the program Councillor Jeff,” Grand Chief Derek Nepinak, with the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, wrote on social media.

“We went to your classrooms for a hundred years! You can spend a few hours in ours! Reconciliation is part of the institution of leadership now, not window dressing for amusement.”

Half an hour later, Browaty issued a revised statement retracting the comment and apologizing unequivocally if he offended anyone.

“While I feel there are certain non-public facing employees that don’t necessarily need to have this training in the delivery of their jobs, as a major employer it is important that we offer training, consistent with the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action for municipalities,” he wrote. 

“As police board chair I will ask our chief about the training provided and attend a session, if appropriate.”

Mayor Brian Bowman has declared 2016 the year of reconciliation in Winnipeg after Maclean’s magazine dubbed the city the most racist in Canada.

In a report outlining its reconciliation efforts, the city said it developed a half-day session with cultural teachers and elders for “staff to learn about the schools as well as their long-lasting effects.” The city said the training had already begun and would continue through 2017 until all staff had participated.

It said the city would continue to investigate other training sessions to address outstanding topics raised in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s final report.

“There are no financial implications associated with the recommendation in this report,” it said.

— By Chinta Puxley in Edmonton

The Canadian Press