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A provincial cabinet minister in Newfoundland and Labrador has resigned for making comments deemed racist by one of the province's largest Indigenous groups.
Perry Trimper issued a statement Friday acknowledging the hurt caused by his statements and saying he is stepping down as environment minister, effective immediately. Liberal Premier Dwight Ball accepted his resignation.
Trimper had apologized to the Innu of Labrador on Thursday after the group released an audio recording in which Trimper is heard saying the Innu are prone to playing "the race card."
The recording starts with a low-key voicemail message from Trimper to an Innu Nation staff member about vehicle registration, but it continues to pick up a conversation Trimper has with someone after he fails to hang up his phone.
Ball said in a statement that Trimper will focus on rebuilding relationships with the Innu from outside cabinet, a process that will include cultural sensitivity training.
"While my words do not represent my values, I recognize that they were insensitive," Trimper said in a statement. "Understanding and sensitivity are critical to relationship building, and I welcome all opportunities for healing, which includes the process of reconciliation."
Trimper initially issued an apology to the grand chief of the Innu Nation, Greg Rich, and his executive assistant Dominic Rich, who received the message.
"I regret that I said these words," Trimper told St. John's radio station VOCM. "I need to apologize and I want to apologize .... Those words don't reflect me. I drifted away from the person I aspired to be."
The politician, who represents a riding in central Labrador, said he has worked with the Innu people for many years, even before he entered politics.
He said he was aware that some within the community are not satisfied with the services they are receiving, but he made it clear his comments were inappropriate and he denied being a racist.
"I'm mad at myself," he told VOCM, adding that he would work to regain the trust of his constituents. "My career has been devoted to Labrador and so much of it to the Innu."
