Office of the Official Opposition 

For Immediate Release

St. John’s, NL (October 24, 2019) – PC Opposition Leader Ches Crosbie says that the PC caucus cannot support Perry Trimper for the role of speaker. “The speaker presides over the House of Assembly, is its spokesperson, and should be beyond reproach” said Crosbie.

“The racially charged comments from Mr. Trimper and the other unidentified individual on the recording have caused an immense amount of pain for indigenous peoples and the whole of Labrador. As a caucus, we cannot in good conscience support Mr. Trimper for the role of speaker of the House of Assembly” says Crosbie.

Crosbie said “This Liberal Government’s treatment of the people of Labrador has been nothing short of a disaster. The bungling of wetland capping at the Muskrat Falls reservoir, unauthorized search and seizures, endless issues with the newly procured ferries, and the Trimper recording are all evidence of this.”

PC Opposition critic for Labrador and Indigenous Affairs Lela Evans said that the Trimper recording has been particularly hurtful because it undermined indigenous peoples attempt to maintain their language while actively participating in todays society.

“Any insinuation that indigenous peoples are ‘entitled’ for simply asking the provincial government for help with translation services is completely and utterly unacceptable” said Evans.

Contacts:

Bradley Russell

Director of Policy and Research

(p) 1.709.729.3668

BradleyRussell@gov.nl.ca

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