APTN National News
Gov-General David Johnston refused to answer questions on Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence Tuesday when approached by reporters asking if he was going to meet with the chief who is now in her eighth day of a hunger strike.
Johnston just smiled as APTN National News reporter Annette Francis asked was it not his duty as a representative of the Queen to meet with Spence.
“As a representative of the Crown isn’t it incumbent upon you to meet with Chief Theresa Spence?” Johnston was asked, twice.
Spence is on a hunger strike until there is a meeting between Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Johnston and First Nations leaders to discuss treaty rights that she says are being violated by the federal government.
APTN National News first approached Johnston immediately after a photo-opportunity at Ottawa’s City Hall where Johnston was celebrating the renaming of a park – the Diamond Jubilee Park – that used to be named the Findlay Creek Community Park.
He didn’t say anything when asked the question and smiled as people approached him. His media handlers said beforehand he would not be taking questions.
As he slowly made his way across the room APTN asked him again and his media handlers grabbed one reporter by her shoulder, twice, trying to pull her out of the way.
Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson also ran interference to move reporters out of the way for Johnston.
“He is here for a photo-opp,” said Watson.
Spence is staying in a teepee on Victoria Island that is just a few hundred metres from Parliament Hill and the Supreme Court of Canada.
My message left on the GG’s FB page:
“your refusal & procrastination in taking the time to respect & speak with Chief Spence is more than an embarrassment. your actions today, & that of your staff & handlers in refusing to answer a question that is on the minds of ALL Canadians, not just First Nations people, is yet another example of how we Canadians continue to fund & pay for laziness in the people who are supposed to be there to represent & stand up for us.
you should be ashamed of yourself !”
I just couldn’t bring myself to click the “like” button on his page though 🙁 Liked MJ ~ this guy ~ Not So Much.
He didn’t say anything when asked the question and smiled as people
approached him. His media handlers said beforehand he would not be
taking questions
“His media handlers” he has people that handle him or dictate
People should be showing up at GG events with Idlenomore signs
The Governor General is supposed to be the Queens representative in Canada & is historically responsible for Aboriginal communications with the monarchy.
This obvious puppet of Harper has now abdicated the last meaningful role of the GG & laid the groundwork for the elimination of the position.
Aboriginal leadership should now consider taking the #IdleNoMore message directly to Queen Elizabeth II highlighting the failure of her representative.
That or help most Canadians and most esp. Quebecors to finally release ourselves from the British Crown and replace it with our own FN Crown. I know lots of Indians with the surname “King”. Wonder where that comes from. Bye, bye David (former GG)
I dont know why anybody would be surprised at the GG actions. he is after all just a functionary of the status quo. No Michaëlle Jean is this guy.
All FN, Metis & Inuits should be posting on Governor Generals Face book page to voice there concerns and Demand him to meet with Cheif Spence & FN Leaders. https://www.facebook.com/GGDavidJohnston