Sask. city councillor's speech called 'thinly-veiled racism' by chief

Councillor Blake Edwards speaking during a March 28 council meeting. (City of Prince Albert)

The Chief of Montreal Lake Cree Nation says comments made by a Prince Albert city councillor are “stereotypical” and “thinly-veiled racism.”

“It was very disappointing to read the comments made by Ward 6 Councillor Blake Edwards,” said Chief Joyce Naytowhow-McLeod in an open letter to Prince Albert Mayor Greg Dionne and City Council.

Naytowhow-McLeod said Edwards' comments simplify a complex issue by insinuating that First Nation organizations are either unaware of the challenges their people face in an urban setting or deny it. She maintains that First Nations leaders do neither.

“If Councillor Edwards wants to address the level of crime in Prince Albert, perhaps he should clearly understand the socio-economic dynamics that create an environment of which crime is one consequence."

Edwards spoke out about crime and social problems in a prepared statement he read at a city council meeting on March 28. The comments were published by paNOW on Monday.

“It’s not okay for people in our small city to be walking around with machetes, it’s not okay that people in our shopping areas intimidate our residents. It’s not okay for people shopping or going for groceries to get called racist when they don’t hand over a loonie or a cigarette,” Edwards said during the meeting.

He also accused neighbouring communities of banning residents "allowing them instead to come here to Prince Albert to wreak the same havoc they were doing in that community without helping."

"Many families are dropping their own family members off in our city and saying 'Here you go, Prince Albert, you deal with our problem. Well, what solution is that?'"

Edwards told CTV News he stands behind the comments, but claims they were presented in a way that made them seem negative.

“I didn’t make any of those specific quotes at all towards Montreal Lake,” Edwards said.

He says he has since spoken with Naytowhow-McLeod and clarified the comments. He’s planning a local leadership summit to discuss crime and social issues and is asking all levels of government from Prince Albert and the surrounding communities to participate.

“I’m looking forward to having the summit. We need to get together and have these challenging conversations,” Edwards said.