Thursday, September 11, 2008

Quebec Liberal Candidate Resigns Over Mohawk Comments

From The CBC:

A Liberal Party candidate in Quebec City who drew fire for past comments about Mohawk warriors in the Oka Crisis has resigned from the federal election campaign.

Simon Bédard, a former radio host, tendered his resignation as candidate in the Quebec riding after Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion asked him to withdraw from the race, according to the party website.

"Mr. Bédard agrees that the statements he made regarding First Nations people are not compatible with the beliefs and values of the Liberal Party of Canada," Dion said in the online statement.

During the 1990 Oka Crisis, Bédard suggested Canadian soldiers end the standoff in Kanesatake by "cleaning out" Mohawk warriors.

"You go in there with the army, and you clean it all up. Fifty deaths, 100 deaths, 125 deaths, it's done. We can put that behind us and go on," he said during his CJRP radio show, 'Action Réaction.'

He expressed his opinion after provincial police Cpl. Marcel Lemay was killed during a tense moment in the two and a half month summer standoff.

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