The Premier says he cannot name the person behind other voice heard in conversation with Perry Trimper and recorded inadvertently on an Innu Nation voice message.
Dwight Ball told reporters at Confederation Building late this afternoon that Trimper will stay on in caucus but he has accepted his resignation from cabinet.
Trimper and an unnamed woman can be heard discussing issues involving the Innu Nation, using words like “God given right,” “entitled” and “race card.”
Premier Ball says the woman in the recording is a government employee but is not in an executive position.
Dwight Ball indicates conversations with the Innu Nation are ongoing, in order to coordinate a further meeting. Ball says the possibility of installing mandatory sensitivity training may be discussed.
Fogo Island-Cape Freels MHA Derrick Bragg will be sworn-in as the new minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment this evening.
Earlier Story
Embattled MHA Perry Trimper is out of Cabinet. The Lake Melville MHA offered his resignation to Premier Dwight Ball, and the Premier accepted.
BREAKING: @PerryTrimper has resigned. Here’s his statement: #nlpoli @VOCMNEWS pic.twitter.com/nMf85PXl7p
— Fred Hutton (@Fred_Hutton) September 13, 2019
The resignation follows an intense 24 hours of controversy after he failed to hang up the phone following a brief recorded message for Dominic Rich, an executive assistant with the Innu Nation. Trimper and an unidentified woman use words such as “entitled” and “playing the race card” in reference to the Innu Nation.
Premier Ball says Trimper will stay on as the MHA for Lake Melville and will take sensitivity training.
Response to Trimper’s resignation from Premier @DwightBallNL. @VOCMNEWS #nlpoli pic.twitter.com/vmBLZYq3DZ
— Ben Murphy (@BenMurphy590) September 13, 2019
Ball says his government values the relationship with the Innu Nation, and holds them in the highest respect. Discussions are currently in progress with Grand Chief Rich to schedule an in-person meeting so that the Innu and government can discuss the situation further.
Trimper maintains that he is not a racist.
Ches Crosbie says Trimper had to resign from cabinet and wants to know who else was in the recording.
He questions if Ball can reconcile relationships with Indigenous groups. @VOCMNEWS #nlpoli pic.twitter.com/i0moGufTlT
— Ben Murphy (@BenMurphy590) September 13, 2019
Opposition Leader Ches Crosbie says Trimper did the right thing, but he wonders whether racially-charged attitudes are prevalent in the Liberal Government.
He also says government has a duty to provide more information on the other person in the conversation with Trimper.
Crosbie wonders if he can execute his duties as MHA now that the Innu Nation has lost confidence in him. He wants to know if Premier Ball will allow the MHA to remain in the Liberal Caucus.
Labrador West NDP MHA Jordan Brown has known Trimper for a long time. He says this is a time for Trimper to make himself available to apologize in person to all three Indigenous leaders.
NDP’s Jim Dinn says much the same – Trimper did the right thing by resigning.
He says it’s not about what he thinks should be done it’s about what the Innu Nation and other Indigenous groups feel should be done. @VOCMNEWS #nlpoli pic.twitter.com/dsNWDVF2mL
— Ben Murphy (@BenMurphy590) September 13, 2019
