APTN News
Embattled Sen. Lynn Beyak could be charged with a hate crime says fellow senator Lillian Dyck.
Dyck is referring to letters Beyak, 68, recently posted on her Parliamentary website that support the “good” that Indian residential schools did.
“I looked it up,” Dyck told APTN News Friday. “Hate speech is communicating statements in public that incite hatred against any identifiable group.
“Someone could look into this…Check all the letters and make a determination as to whether it met the high standard for hate speech. She could be charged.”
Dyck is from the Gordon First Nation in Saskatchewan and chair of the Aboriginal Peoples committee. Beyak was removed from that committee last year when she expressed support for the schools.
Beyak was then removed from the Conservative Party of Canada caucus late Thursday.
“On Tuesday, January 2, 2018, I learned that Senator Lynn Beyak posted to her Parliamentary website approximately 100 letters from Canadians in support of her position on residential schools,” CPC Leader Andrew Scheer said in a statement.
Scheer said he demanded Beyak remove the content from her website, but she refused.
“As a result of her actions, the Conservative Senate Leader Larry Smith and I have removed Senator Lynn Beyak from the Conservative National Caucus,” Scheer said. “Racism will not be tolerated in the Conservative Caucus or Conservative Party of Canada.”
Scheer’s spokesman said there would be no further comment.
Many consider the letters and Beyak’s position on the notorious school system to be racist.
Dyck said the national outcry against Beyak could put her in the same boat as David Ahenakew, an Aboriginal leader from Saskatchewan charged with hate after making remarks about Jews in December 2002.
Ahenakew was found not guilty after two trials.
Dyck said some of the letters, which don’t reveal the authors’ full names, are “outrageous and offensive.”
She said they promote false and negative stereotypes about Indigenous people that, in turn, lead to discrimination and negative treatment.
Dyck praised Scheer for booting Beyak from caucus but says that frees the now-Independent senator from any censorship.
“She is not alone,” Dyck added. “This is a symptom of the racism in our country.”
Beyak’s views that some Indigenous children benefitted from forced residential school have been condemned by the Anglican church and Thunder Bay city council.
It was churches that ran the schools – known for emotional, physical and sexual abuse – for the Canadian government.
Beyak has not responded to APTN’s request for comment.
Beyak was nominated to the senate by former prime minister Stephen Harper. It was Harper who apologized in 2008 for the residential school system.
Dyck said reconciliation is meaningless if Canadians can’t address racism in society.
“I’m 72 years old. Is it going to change before I die? I hope so,” she said.
Meanwhile, she said she would not make the complaint to police to investigate Beyak.
Stop the bullying of Senator Beyak!
Stop the bullying of Senator Beyak!
When will the bullying of Senator Beyak stop?
When will the bullying of Senator Beyak stop?
Lynn Beyak is exercising her freedom of speech. Whether you agree with her or not, she does have the right to speak her mind. Many Canadians agree with what she says. What Lynn does not say is that many “white” Canadians are also lazy good-for-nothings too. Lack of drive and ambition is not restricted to First Nations. It is a national epidemic. Ruminating on the past does not propel us into the future, and no one needs a guilt trip to make them feel bad. Canada is fast becoming a nation of overly politically-correct milquetoasts. It is telling that we cannot build bridges (the Johnson Street Bridge in Victoria for example) because the seel we have to buy from China is not up to grade. We have to buy our (BC) ferries from Germany, even though we have shipyards right here.
Dispicable! Excuses made by educated Canadians in upper office who abuse their position of power by making morally distorted remarks about an extremely painful and abusive era for many victims of residential schools. And those disregarding, close-minded opinions toward innocent people in attempt to sway Canadians into adopting and applauding their own morally deficient sickness of Absolute racism and disregard of such victims is disturbing to say the least.
We teach our kids to accept and be kind to others of ALL color, we teach equality for all, yet here are adults we are suppose to respect as the “upper-educated” positions of power revictimizing victims with no regard, and told thats ok to quietly accept the bully.
Its time to stand up Canada! Doing nothing leaves u in support of such atrocity
Lynn Beyak is exercising her freedom of speech. Whether you agree with her or not, she does have the right to speak her mind. Many Canadians agree with what she says. What Lynn does not say is that many “white” Canadians are also lazy good-for-nothings too. Lack of drive and ambition is not restricted to First Nations. It is a national epidemic. Ruminating on the past does not propel us into the future, and no one needs a guilt trip to make them feel bad. Canada is fast becoming a nation of overly politically-correct milquetoasts. It is telling that we cannot build bridges (the Johnson Street Bridge in Victoria for example) because the seel we have to buy from China is not up to grade. We have to buy our (BC) ferries from Germany, even though we have shipyards right here.
Dispicable! Excuses made by educated Canadians in upper office who abuse their position of power by making morally distorted remarks about an extremely painful and abusive era for many victims of residential schools. And those disregarding, close-minded opinions toward innocent people in attempt to sway Canadians into adopting and applauding their own morally deficient sickness of Absolute racism and disregard of such victims is disturbing to say the least.
We teach our kids to accept and be kind to others of ALL color, we teach equality for all, yet here are adults we are suppose to respect as the “upper-educated” positions of power revictimizing victims with no regard, and told thats ok to quietly accept the bully.
Its time to stand up Canada! Doing nothing leaves u in support of such atrocity
The comments made by Lynn Beyak,only reveal her upmost distaste towards first nations.My family members suffered both physical beatings from residential schools.I ask,how did this improve my sisters lives,what good did it do?Trade in your Status cards,Why,don,t you Lynn Beyak give up your parliament wages,pension?You obviouusly,are uneducated in the colonization of what the goverment did to the first nations people from the sexual abuse of young boys,rape.I am glad that your position is being reviewed,as a person in power you are only adding salt to open wounds.If we were given compensation,as survivors of
the residential schools.That is a small compensation for the horrors we,endured.
The comments made by Lynn Beyak,only reveal her upmost distaste towards first nations.My family members suffered both physical beatings from residential schools.I ask,how did this improve my sisters lives,what good did it do?Trade in your Status cards,Why,don,t you Lynn Beyak give up your parliament wages,pension?You obviouusly,are uneducated in the colonization of what the goverment did to the first nations people from the sexual abuse of young boys,rape.I am glad that your position is being reviewed,as a person in power you are only adding salt to open wounds.If we were given compensation,as survivors of
the residential schools.That is a small compensation for the horrors we,endured.
Lynn Beyak is only stating what Jean Chretien proposed in 1969 read the history…this was a proposal that P.E. Trudeau LIBERAL gov’t was to set in stone!! AFN should be treated the same as all CANADIANS. They should all start receiving a cheque (with their own name on the cheque) for each individual AFN to purchase their own land, food and essentials of life off or on a reserve…not for the CHIEF to decide. WE ARE ALL CANADIANS!!
Lynn Beyak is only stating what Jean Chretien proposed in 1969 read the history…this was a proposal that P.E. Trudeau LIBERAL gov’t was to set in stone!! AFN should be treated the same as all CANADIANS. They should all start receiving a cheque (with their own name on the cheque) for each individual AFN to purchase their own land, food and essentials of life off or on a reserve…not for the CHIEF to decide. WE ARE ALL CANADIANS!!
Well as wrong and culturally insensitive as she is I don’t feel criminal charges are appropriate because she is commenting on a gov amd church sponsored school system . She has an opinion ,about a previous gov amd church policy and as un-informed as it is this is Canada amd criminalizing free speech ( that does not advocate out right killing and persecution) won’t do us any good either . She got what she deserved already . He career in ruins and publicly shamed . Supporting the church even though there is rampant abuse is a religious freedom comparable to being Muslim in a world that tries to associate that with terrorism . If we succumb to that train of thought a lot of people would also support criminalizing being or supporting Muslim . We need the conversation to address the injustice of it without making the subject taboo.
It is difficult for anyone to comment on anything anymore because so many want immediately label a comment as racist.
Lillian Dyck is one of those people. I am sure that the government at the time thought they were doing the right thing for indigenous
children since the indigenous community did not have a viable alternative. They to this day do not have an education system for their
own children with indigenous teachers. They continue to wait on the government to supply their needs rather than doing it for themselves.
If it is so important that indigenous culture and language be retained then why aren’t indigenous chiefs and leaders providing the
groundwork and structure for indigenous education. Once established the government would probably contribute in a big way.
But you cannot expect government to do all the work. If my statement sounds racist, I apologize because I do not mean to be.
You seem to miss the point that indigenous kids were removed from their families, without choice, to be indoctrinated in “european society” standards. That is problem #1 and calling it cultural genocide is appropriate (This didn’t finally stop until 1996!). Then the emotional, physical and sexual abuse followed. Today, there are several generations of Indigenous peoples who did not learn how to be children or parents. Do you expect these people to be able to lead, make things better for the next generation? I think it will take more than one generation to begin to fix what happened from the 1880 to 1996.
And I think the “Indigenous” senator should be removed for not knowing what a hate crime really is.
Oh goody, the MaCarthy trials are starting here in Canada.
Well as wrong and culturally insensitive as she is I don’t feel criminal charges are appropriate because she is commenting on a gov amd church sponsored school system . She has an opinion ,about a previous gov amd church policy and as un-informed as it is this is Canada amd criminalizing free speech ( that does not advocate out right killing and persecution) won’t do us any good either . She got what she deserved already . He career in ruins and publicly shamed . Supporting the church even though there is rampant abuse is a religious freedom comparable to being Muslim in a world that tries to associate that with terrorism . If we succumb to that train of thought a lot of people would also support criminalizing being or supporting Muslim . We need the conversation to address the injustice of it without making the subject taboo.
It is difficult for anyone to comment on anything anymore because so many want immediately label a comment as racist.
Lillian Dyck is one of those people. I am sure that the government at the time thought they were doing the right thing for indigenous
children since the indigenous community did not have a viable alternative. They to this day do not have an education system for their
own children with indigenous teachers. They continue to wait on the government to supply their needs rather than doing it for themselves.
If it is so important that indigenous culture and language be retained then why aren’t indigenous chiefs and leaders providing the
groundwork and structure for indigenous education. Once established the government would probably contribute in a big way.
But you cannot expect government to do all the work. If my statement sounds racist, I apologize because I do not mean to be.
You seem to miss the point that indigenous kids were removed from their families, without choice, to be indoctrinated in “european society” standards. That is problem #1 and calling it cultural genocide is appropriate (This didn’t finally stop until 1996!). Then the emotional, physical and sexual abuse followed. Today, there are several generations of Indigenous peoples who did not learn how to be children or parents. Do you expect these people to be able to lead, make things better for the next generation? I think it will take more than one generation to begin to fix what happened from the 1880 to 1996.
And I think the “Indigenous” senator should be removed for not knowing what a hate crime really is.
Oh goody, the MaCarthy trials are starting here in Canada.
I totally agree with Craig Benton..Hate Crime shouldn’t he tolerated with..Racism is Racism no matter how you look @ it..Can’t we all just live in Peace amongst Fellow Men..I pray that one day my Grandchildren’s Children wouldn’t have to go through that Lord Willing…
This writer supports the recommendation put forward by Senator Dyck and feels that the AFN National Chief Bellegard should lead the charge in having Senator Bayak and her so called support to be investigated for hate crimes. Enough is enough
Dyck said reconciliation is meaningless if Canadians can’t address racism in society.
Yes, sure, she is right.
Then what non Indian Canadians should call Indians boycott of Canadas 150 Birthday ?
This is not racism, right ?
The disturbing part of this story is Ms Beyak received over 100 letters from obviously non-intelligent people who supports residential schools. Let’s see how they like it when First Nations reps goes into their homes, kidnaps their children, rapes them, forces a new language upon them to learn and then watch them suffer from malnutrition and disease.
“Tough on Crime”? Somehow, when you have an underage person suffering the effects of alcohol poisoning at 24 Sussex Drive, and the homeowner not being fined with providing alcohol to minors, due to the fact that the homeowner is the Prime Minister of Canada. The same one who appointed this spouse of a used car salesman. I do not think that Senator Beyak will incur any penalty whatsoever.
This is, after all the same country that does not publicly exhibit the faces of non-Indigenous men in the media, who have murdered, maimed or tortured Indigenous women and girls yet itself has no problem with publishing the images of Indigenous peoples when alleged to have committed criminal acts as they are condemned as guilty before due process. So, yes she will never be charged with perpetuating hate but will retire comfortably on public funds with recourse to joining the likes of Tom Flanagan and Conrad Black.
Lets see some stats.
I totally agree with Craig Benton..Hate Crime shouldn’t he tolerated with..Racism is Racism no matter how you look @ it..Can’t we all just live in Peace amongst Fellow Men..I pray that one day my Grandchildren’s Children wouldn’t have to go through that Lord Willing…
This writer supports the recommendation put forward by Senator Dyck and feels that the AFN National Chief Bellegard should lead the charge in having Senator Bayak and her so called support to be investigated for hate crimes. Enough is enough
Dyck said reconciliation is meaningless if Canadians can’t address racism in society.
Yes, sure, she is right.
Then what non Indian Canadians should call Indians boycott of Canadas 150 Birthday ?
This is not racism, right ?
Yes, she should, and she should be removed from her post by the GG. No Canadian taxpayer ought to foot the
bill for a paycheque making those kinds of comments.
Unfortunately, it will be almost impossible to remove her from the senate unless without a constitutional amendment changing the grounds for removal.
Canada has become a third world bananna republic,what’s next? …. a knock on the door in the middle of the night .Police at the door,your being arrested.. The crime, I hurt your feelings,suck it up,my families escaped the very shit you are trying to impose on the rest of us.
Millions of innocent people also were murdered for no other reason than they were born crippled,retarded,faggots ,Jewish.How’s that for political correctness.
There is a lot more to the rotten saga of the residential schools that most are ignorant of.This is going to get worse as government tries to legislate morality.This is going to end badly.
I totally agree with Craig Benton Afterall Racism is Racism no matter how you look @ it..Can’t we all just live in Peace with Fellowmen..I Pray one day my Grandchildren’s Children will not have to experience this Lord Wiling..So Sad and yet we have such a Beautiful Country Called CANADA…
The disturbing part of this story is Ms Beyak received over 100 letters from obviously non-intelligent people who supports residential schools. Let’s see how they like it when First Nations reps goes into their homes, kidnaps their children, rapes them, forces a new language upon them to learn and then watch them suffer from malnutrition and disease.
“Tough on Crime”? Somehow, when you have an underage person suffering the effects of alcohol poisoning at 24 Sussex Drive, and the homeowner not being fined with providing alcohol to minors, due to the fact that the homeowner is the Prime Minister of Canada. The same one who appointed this spouse of a used car salesman. I do not think that Senator Beyak will incur any penalty whatsoever.
This is, after all the same country that does not publicly exhibit the faces of non-Indigenous men in the media, who have murdered, maimed or tortured Indigenous women and girls yet itself has no problem with publishing the images of Indigenous peoples when alleged to have committed criminal acts as they are condemned as guilty before due process. So, yes she will never be charged with perpetuating hate but will retire comfortably on public funds with recourse to joining the likes of Tom Flanagan and Conrad Black.
Lets see some stats.
Yes, she should, and she should be removed from her post by the GG. No Canadian taxpayer ought to foot the
bill for a paycheque making those kinds of comments.
Unfortunately, it will be almost impossible to remove her from the senate unless without a constitutional amendment changing the grounds for removal.
Canada has become a third world bananna republic,what’s next? …. a knock on the door in the middle of the night .Police at the door,your being arrested.. The crime, I hurt your feelings,suck it up,my families escaped the very shit you are trying to impose on the rest of us.
Millions of innocent people also were murdered for no other reason than they were born crippled,retarded,faggots ,Jewish.How’s that for political correctness.
There is a lot more to the rotten saga of the residential schools that most are ignorant of.This is going to get worse as government tries to legislate morality.This is going to end badly.
I totally agree with Craig Benton Afterall Racism is Racism no matter how you look @ it..Can’t we all just live in Peace with Fellowmen..I Pray one day my Grandchildren’s Children will not have to experience this Lord Wiling..So Sad and yet we have such a Beautiful Country Called CANADA…