BC Chief Demands Apology from Colin Mayes

BC Chief Demands Apology
Wayne Moore - Story: 26180 / Cananet.net
Jan. 26, 2007 / 3:30 pm

The Union of BC Indian Chiefs wants an apology.

Grand Chief, Stewart Phillip, has demanded an apology from Conservative MP Colin Mayes.

The Okanagan-Shuswap MP is in hot water after responding "good joke," to an email joke titled "Tim Horton's Tonto."

The joke, written in broken English, makes reference to Chief and Tonto.

Mayes response to the joke came to light during a CHBC-TV news report earlier this week.

Mayes is chair of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Peoples.

"To openly applaud a blatantly racist joke and then to attempt to trivialize the matter represents an act of arrogant disregard of the duties of a responsible Member of Parliament," says Phillip.

He says Mayes must "immediately apologize" or his role as chair of the Standing Committee will be compromised.

"Let me be perfectly clear, this is not a bi-partisan issue between the Conservatives and Liberals. Rather, this is a violation of fundamental human rights. This is no joking matter."

Phillip says if Mayes refuses to apologize, then he must resign.