Kim Sigurdson's Accusations of Racism - The Implications for Public Education

 

If you haven't heard about ACC President Kim Sigurdson's latest comments, here is some background from the Kamloops Daily News.

"OUCH"

What else can you say?

This really is going to make for a very difficult public meeting on March 11th. I wonder what the Chamber folks are thinking now?  Mel Rothenburger in his criticism today of Mr. Sigurdson's comments also says

On the other hand, this should ensure a lively public forum on March 11 when Sigurdson will speak at the TRU Grand Hall,

I am personally just really unsure whether the lively nature of the forum should be a measure of its success. Isn't this supposed to be public education? The public ugliness and emotion of this thing has now very unfortunately been brought to a whole new level. And unless Mr. Sigurdson's walks back from his accusations, as the proponent, I feel the meeting will likely have such little credibility in the public eye. Mr. Sigurdson seems to totally denigrate any of the arguments against the ACC creosote tie gasifier.

Very disappointing indeed.

Comments

[Ted Robinson]

Its not the first time Sigurdson has accused people of Racism.

I am very offended! My best friend is Metis and she is totally against this plant. Been opposed to something does not make you Racist. If the Chamber still hosts this and MOE presents - they both condone this statement!

http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=1038538&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=36&Ses=1

"In closing, I have one more thing to say. People say to me, “Are you
angry? Are you frustrated?” As an aboriginal and seeing the way the
racism has run through these departments— and it is racism —I had to
find out who these bureaucrats were who were working with FFMC. "
There are only three or four bureaucrats who work with Freshwater Fish, and they, believe me, helped Freshwater Fish in every way and every step along the way of putting down people like me and aboriginal people across western Canada."

[Arjun Singh]

Thanks for your comment Ted. I have heard Mr Sigurdson has received racist messages related to his proposed project. But, I also feel Mr Sigurdson made far too much of a generalization. I am hopeful that he will take his comment back. I have never met him, but I hear he is a good man.

As far as the Chamber and MOE goes, I would personally not say that by hosting and presenting at a public meeting after these accusations that either the Chamber or the MOE are supporting the accusations (bad sentence flow, sorry).

I would however wonder what the Chamber hopes to achieve out of this meeting. And if it is good public information to help people understand better the situation, I wonder whether the meeting has a good chance of offering this. The Chamber took on this pretty thankless task and I fear it is becoming more thankless.