(Ottawa) A Conservative MP apologized in the House of Commons Thursday after an Indigenous colleague from across the political spectrum called him out for linking an offender’s criminal record to his race.
Brad Redekopp says he misspoke earlier this week when he criticized parole officers for releasing Myles Sanderson on bail before Cree Nation member James Smith carried out mass shooting white in 2022 in Saskatchewan.
The Saskatoon MP falsely suggested Tuesday that the parole board predicted Sanderson “was likely to re-offend because of his racial background.”
He confirmed on Thursday that the Conservative Party had sought to correct the record – not by removing the allegation entirely, but by changing it to say that Sanderson was likely to reoffend “regardless” of where he came from.
NDP MP Leah Gazan doesn’t accept that explanation, saying Brad Redekopp only apologized after she demanded he publicly answer for his comments.
Gazan says the record should reflect her original comments and that the Conservative party must confront what she calls a pattern of anti-Indigenous rhetoric.