Cuthand Column Draws Response From Tory MP

Cuthand Column Draws Response From Tory MP

Monday, April 19, 2010 at 14:22

 

 

The Member of Parliament for Desnethe-Missinippi-Churchill River is taking issue with a recent column in the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix.

 

On Friday, writer Doug Cuthand of the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix suggested that voters in Saskatchewan get rid of Conservative MPs because of their policies.

 

Cuthand said the current government is headed down a road that doesn’t bode well for First Nations people.

 

In particular, he took issue with the government’s decision to axe the Aboriginal Healing Foundation and suspend funds to the First Nations University of Canada.

 

He also suggested Rob Clarke’s northern Saskatchewan riding would be vulnerable in the next election, noting many students from Clarke’s constituency attend the FNUC.

 

In a letter of response, Clarke is calling Cuthand’s article a “wildly-biased rant”.

 

He says efforts are being made to support residential survivors through the Resolution Health and Support Program, which Clarke says includes counselling and elder support.

 

As well, he says the Conservative government has committed $3 million to the FNUC, and has made it clear it is willing to work with the University of Regina to assist the FNUC.

 

Clarke is also taking a swipe at NDP candidate Lawrence Joseph, saying the former FSIN chief left a “terrible mess” for the current chief, Guy Lonechild, to inherit.