FORT MCMURRAY – Wood Buffalo Mayor Sandy Bowman has issued a statement apologizing for what he calls Councillor Shafiq Dogar’s “insensitive, inaccurate and hateful comments” made during Thursday’s budget meeting.
Here is Mayor Bowman’s statement in full:
“As Mayor of the region and on behalf of my Council colleagues, I’d like to formally and sincerely apologize to all Indigenous Peoples and communities in the region following insensitive, inaccurate and hateful comments made by Councillor Dogar earlier today during a public Council meeting for the 2022 municipal budget. We completely disagree with these comments and are shocked and saddened by what took place.
During debate on a motion made by Councillor Cardinal regarding prevention and awareness initiatives for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two Spirit People (MMIWG2S) Councillor Dogar appeared to have made reference to Indigenous Peoples residing in the rural areas and that they come to Fort McMurray to get drunk, fight, or have other legal issues. These hurtful and divisive comments are completely unacceptable, incorrect and difficult to comprehend.
Unfortunately, and regrettably, due to a language barrier I did not fully understand the comments from Councillor Dogar at the time when they were made. Now, having opportunity to again hear the comments and in dialogue with Indigenous leaders in the region, I am truly sorry and shocked that our Council chambers – which I believe should be a place of reconciliation at all times – was the venue for these comments.
As Mayor, I am formally committing to further Indigenous cultural awareness and sensitivity training and will be asking all my Council colleagues to join me in this training in a spirit of reconciliation, learning and healing.
I also understand that Athabasca Tribal Council and others in the region are calling for Councillor Dogar to resign from Council. As Mayor, I do not have the power to unilaterally remove a democratically elected Councillor from office, however I will be joining in this call for Councillor Dogar to personally apologize and resign and will be discussing with Council our options as next steps.
Indigenous Peoples deserve better.”
Councillor Dogar posted the following statement on social media:
The following is a statement from Athabasca Tribal Council:
“During the meeting Councillor Dogar publicly stated that he did not support the motion because Indigenous people in Wood Buffalo reside in the rural areas and only come to Fort McMurray to get drunk, or fight, or have other legal issues,” summarized Karla Buffalo, CEO for Athabasca Tribal Council. “This is hate speech. Wood Buffalo’s Council Chambers is a place for reconciliation, not harmful statements and division.”
This statement was also factually untrue. According to the 2016 Canadian Census 5,195 Indigenous people make the Urban Service Area of Fort McMurray their home. “In his response we heard derogatory, prejudiced and outright racist comments.” continued Buffalo.
ATC Calls Upon the RMWB to take the following actions:
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We call for Councillor Dogar’s immediate resignation from the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo’s council.
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A formal apology on behalf of Mayor and Council be given to the Indigenous people of Wood Buffalo in writing and in a public Council meeting.
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The entire RMWB Mayor and Council undertake within 30 days additional meaningful cultural awareness training specific to the First Nations of Wood Buffalo.
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The video of this budget meeting in its entirety be released within 48 hours to the public.