Manitoba Justice Minister apologizes over controversial appointment
Manitoba's Justice Minister is apologizing over a controversial appointment of a former PC politician who has come under fire for recent articles downplaying the brutality of residential schools.
Jim McCrae, a former provincial justice minister, was recently appointed to the Masters Appointment Committee, which is responsible for selecting people to work as judicial officers in the court system.
The decision came under fire due to articles McCrae wrote about residential schools. One article asserted that Indigenous parents sent their children there to learn to read and write. He's been accused of denying the brutal reality of what these schools were actually intended for.
Manitoba Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen said he had no knowledge of McCrae's views.
"Let me repeat that – I did not know of Mr. McCrae's writings," he said. "There clearly was a deficiency in the vetting process."
Goertzen said McCrae has been on government boards for around six years, but he should have been re-vetted before he was appointed to the committee.
"I suspect what happened was because he'd been on a board for a long time, that didn't happen," Goertzen said.
The Justice minister said he does apologize for any harm or hurt the appointment has caused.
"I am personally apologizing. There is responsibility and there is accountability, and if you want I will take both of those today," Goertzen said.
While he accepted the apology, NDP MLA Eric Redhead said he feels Goertzen needs to apologize to Indigenous leadership and the Indigenous community in Manitoba.
"I hope that moving forward that these issues don't rise again," Redhead said. "Apologies are one thing but action is another."
In speaking with CTV News on Monday evening, McCrae said he feels his comments have been misrepresented but said he did chose to resign from the committee.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
Some Canadian families will receive up to $620 per child today
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.
Ontario woman loses $15,000 to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.