Minister shuts down ‘reverse racism’ rant

The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities says it does not tolerate racist remarks.

SARM’s statement comes days after a provincial cabinet minister shut down a rant about “reverse racism” against white people during a question-and-answer session at the association’s annual convention.

According to multiple people in the room on Tuesday afternoon, an unidentified man began asking questions about self- and property-defence rights before making comments that have been describe as racist and inappropriate.

Corrections and Policing Minister Christine Tell said she and other panellists, Deputy Minister Dale Larsen and RCMP ‘F’ Division Assistant Commissioner Mark Fisher, tensed as the man complained about “reverse racism” and used phrases like, “It’s the natives against us.”

“I’d had enough … I told him this isn’t appropriate here or anywhere, this is not helpful at all. I said, ‘You need to leave,’ ” Tell said.

SARM President Ray Orb, who was not present for the incident, said in a statement he agrees with Tell. “We hope our members would not behave that way,” he added.

Two years ago, the association came under fire from the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations and others after its members overwhelmingly approved a resolution calling for expanded property-defence rights.

Asked whether the man’s remarks on Tuesday are evidence of a broader problem, both Tell and Fisher characterized it as an isolated incident that was not reflective of many positive discussions during the convention.

“I am not sensing that what that gentleman had expressed in that meeting is prevalent throughout Saskatchewan. I have not seen it, and I can only go by what I see and hear,” Tell said.

“I wouldn’t take one isolated comment and say that it’s a massive trend or anything of that nature. I think that wouldn’t be accurate, in my mind,” Fisher said.