CANADA
CBC News
By John Paul Tasker, CBC News Posted: Mar 28, 2017
Conservative senators came to the defence of their colleague Lynn Beyak Tuesday, saying she has the right to free speech and should remain a member of the Red Chamber’s Aboriginal Peoples committee, despite her rosy views of the residential school system.
“Senator Beyak has exercised her right to free speech. We don’t want a bunch of yes people on committees who are only going to agree with what everyone else is saying,” Senator Don Plett, the Conservative whip, told reporters when asked if he will remove her from the committee.
As for the outrage expressed by some of her fellow senators and residential school survivors, Plett said, “Life will go on. The sun will rise tomorrow and set again tomorrow night and we’ll continue. There is no next step.”
Plett said the Senate’s reputation hasn’t been damaged by her comments. “This may or may not affect her reputation,” he said.
Alberta Conservative Senator Scott Tannas said he doesn’t think she should be removed from the committee, even if there are mounting calls to toss her.
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