Merasty Speaks Out Against Vellacott Nomination

Merasty Speaks Out Against Vellacott Nomination

Friday, April 21, 2006 at 13:16

You can add Gary Merasty’s name to the list of Aboriginal leaders that have serious misgivings about who might end up leading a government committee on Aboriginal issues.

The northern Saskatchewan Liberal MP doesn’t think Saskatoon Tory MP Maurice Vellacott would make a good chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs.

Vellacott recently announced he was the prime minister’s choice to lead the committee. A vote takes place next week.

Vellacott has drawn criticism from Native leaders for defending two Saskatoon police officers convicted of dumping an Aboriginal man on the city’s outskirts in freezing weather.

Merasty also says Vellacott doesn’t seem to have any relationship at all with the Aboriginal community, despite years in public office.

Merasty says if this is the Tories’ idea of seeking political revenge for the downfall of former MP Jeremy Harrison, then they need to be more mature.