Embattled Labrador MHA Perry Trimper says he is not a racist, however, the Innu Nation is not accepting his apology for remarks which were inadvertently left on their voice mail.
Trimper, currently the minister of environment and municipal affairs but formerly the minister responsible for Labrador and indigenous affairs, failed to hang up the phone after leaving a brief recorded message.
He and an unidentified woman use words such as “entitled” and “playing the race card” in reference to the Innu Nation.
Trimper is spending the day in Labrador trying to mend fences.
He says people have challenged him in the past when he was trying to achieve something with remarks such as “you are not making good progress here; what’s the matter – don’t you like us? Are you racist?” Trimper says it’s just the opposite with him as he is not a racist.
Trimper, interviewed by Fred Hutton on the VOCM Morning Show, declined to identify the other person in the conversation but said she does not work in his department.
He said it’s just somebody that he knows, and that the remarks were his doing, not hers.
He was non -committal when asked if he could continue in his current role as cabinet minister. Premier Dwight Ball is not saying anything about Trimper’s future as cabinet minister or status in the Liberal Caucus.
PC Leader Ches Crosbie will comment at a news conference this afternoon at 1:00. VOCM News will be there.
Comments were “Heart-breaking and Hurtful” says Lab West MHA
Jordan Brown, the NDP Member for Labrador West calls the comments caught on voice mail by Perry Trimper “heart-breaking and hurtful.”
Especially as a life-long resident of Labrador and the spouse of an Indigenous woman and father of two Indigenous children.
Brown says he’s known Perry Trimper going back many years and says this is a time for Trimper to make himself available to apologize in person to all three Indigenous leaders.
He’d also like the Premier, who is the Minister of Indigenous and Labrador Affairs to make a physical apology as well.
Earlier Story
Grand Chief Gregory Rich says Innu Nation is upset and shocked with Trimper’s actions.
Perry Trimper, the MHA for Lake Melville and former Minister of Indigenous Affairs, left a short message followed by an exit greeting, but appears to have failed to disconnect, allowing a conversation between him and an unidentified woman to be recorded.
Words such as “entitlement” and “race card” are heard on the recording.
Chief Rich says they have had a good relationship in the past. He says they were shocked and disturbed at the same time. They could not believe comments like that were coming from a minister of this province.
Rich says they are not certain on whether he should continue in either of his roles but they are certain they have lost trust in him. He says Innu Nation has lost confidence in Minister Trimper and will have no confidence in him moving forward.
Innu Nation advisers were meeting Thursday evening to discuss further actions and decisions.
Premier Tight-Lipped on Trimper’s Future, But Innu Reps Question Government’s Attitude
Meanwhile the premier is not saying anything about the future of the cabinet minister.
Peter Penashue, a former MP and Grand Chief of the Innu Nation, wonders “Is this the attitude of government ministers when indigenous peoples are not in the room?” And, “how is the government going to deal with the situation.”
Premier Dwight Ball has apologized to Grand Chief Gregory Rich. He says in no way does Minister Trimper’s comments reflect the views of the Premier, or those of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. He is in the process of speaking with the chief to discuss the matter further.
The full statement can be found here.
Trimper was just sworn in last Friday as Environment Minister after serving a couple of years as Speaker.
