An Alberta Conservative MP is crying foul after opposition members on committee blocked advancement of his motion to condemn church burnings.Arnold Viersen (Peace River–Westlock) first introduced the motion to the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs (INA) a few weeks ago.The motion read, “That it be reported to the House that the committee condemn the arson attacks of over 80 churches across Canada; and in particular, extend their condolences to the community of Grouard and Kapawe'no First Nation with the loss of St. Bernard Church, one of the oldest churches in Alberta, a piece of history, the building that holds memories for generations of community members, and that the committee reaffirm freedom of religion and assembly and call on those responsible for these attacks to be brought to justice.”During an Tuesday meeting of the committee, Viersen said, “I would like to get that motion to come to a vote today. It doesn’t ask for a study or anything like that. It just asks for a report to the House and I think we can get that done here today.”Lori Idlout, (Lib, Nunavut) replied, “I remember that we had agreed that we wouldn’t discuss that motion until after this study.”The chair said Viersen had the floor.“Super. I just wanted to get Chief Allan Adam of the Athabaska Chipewyan First Nation on the record here when he said that he was devastated to watch their church burn in his community. ‘Where are we going to go now for funerals, ask for prayers. This should have never happened. It was uncalled for.’"“Over the summer, one of the oldest churches in Alberta was burnt down in Grouard, St. Bernard’s Church. I would really like to recognize that, give our condolences as a committee to that community and make sure that this doesn’t happen any longer in Canada. It’s outrageous that churches are being burnt down across the country.”Viersen then re-read his motion into the record. In response, Jaime Battiste (Lib, Sydney-Victoria) acknowledged the “deep need for reflection and reconciliation” but said he preferred the motion not proceed yet.“I would like to call to adjourn debate on this if that’s what we can do, so we can hear the rest of the study, but if we have to, then I would rather discuss it in camera because it does have a way of triggering a lot of people who went through residential schools and the things they are going through,” he said.“If you’re going to force a vote on this right now, then I’d like to call it to a vote, with us voting against.”The chair allowed a vote to adjourn debate, which passed with seven in favour and four opposed.In a public letter after the event, Viersen wrote, “This is shameful. These losses of church buildings have been devastating to these communities as these churches are places of milestones — weddings, funerals, baptisms. I am disappointed that the Liberals and NDP refuse to condemn the burning of churches and call for justice for the arsonists.”“Indigenous leaders and church members have expressed their pain watching these church attacks and called for them to stop. When the Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary church was burned down in Fort Chipewyan, Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation elder Alice Rigney described the arson as an ‘attack on the community’s history.’ She added: ‘There is no reconciliation in this. It does not prove reconciliation at all.’”On May 22 2023, St. Bernard Catholic Church in Grouard, AB, was completely engulfed in flames after fires were intentionally set within its premises. The RCMP have since arrested two suspects as a result of the fire. The building, situated on the edge of Kapawe’no First Nation territory, could not be salvaged.On August 25 2022, firefighters responded to an arson at the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Catholic Church on the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation. The church was completely destroyed and a suspect was arrested two months later. Chief Adam’s comments were in response to this arson.Words came more easily to Viersen as he condemned his political adversaries for their refusal to condemn the fires.“It's outrageous that churches are being burnt down across the country. If any other faith community had over 80 places of worship desecrated or burnt down, Liberal and NDP MPs would be lining up to condemn this. But when the attacks come from radical left activists, these politicians are silent and only embolden these criminals.”
An Alberta Conservative MP is crying foul after opposition members on committee blocked advancement of his motion to condemn church burnings.Arnold Viersen (Peace River–Westlock) first introduced the motion to the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs (INA) a few weeks ago.The motion read, “That it be reported to the House that the committee condemn the arson attacks of over 80 churches across Canada; and in particular, extend their condolences to the community of Grouard and Kapawe'no First Nation with the loss of St. Bernard Church, one of the oldest churches in Alberta, a piece of history, the building that holds memories for generations of community members, and that the committee reaffirm freedom of religion and assembly and call on those responsible for these attacks to be brought to justice.”During an Tuesday meeting of the committee, Viersen said, “I would like to get that motion to come to a vote today. It doesn’t ask for a study or anything like that. It just asks for a report to the House and I think we can get that done here today.”Lori Idlout, (Lib, Nunavut) replied, “I remember that we had agreed that we wouldn’t discuss that motion until after this study.”The chair said Viersen had the floor.“Super. I just wanted to get Chief Allan Adam of the Athabaska Chipewyan First Nation on the record here when he said that he was devastated to watch their church burn in his community. ‘Where are we going to go now for funerals, ask for prayers. This should have never happened. It was uncalled for.’"“Over the summer, one of the oldest churches in Alberta was burnt down in Grouard, St. Bernard’s Church. I would really like to recognize that, give our condolences as a committee to that community and make sure that this doesn’t happen any longer in Canada. It’s outrageous that churches are being burnt down across the country.”Viersen then re-read his motion into the record. In response, Jaime Battiste (Lib, Sydney-Victoria) acknowledged the “deep need for reflection and reconciliation” but said he preferred the motion not proceed yet.“I would like to call to adjourn debate on this if that’s what we can do, so we can hear the rest of the study, but if we have to, then I would rather discuss it in camera because it does have a way of triggering a lot of people who went through residential schools and the things they are going through,” he said.“If you’re going to force a vote on this right now, then I’d like to call it to a vote, with us voting against.”The chair allowed a vote to adjourn debate, which passed with seven in favour and four opposed.In a public letter after the event, Viersen wrote, “This is shameful. These losses of church buildings have been devastating to these communities as these churches are places of milestones — weddings, funerals, baptisms. I am disappointed that the Liberals and NDP refuse to condemn the burning of churches and call for justice for the arsonists.”“Indigenous leaders and church members have expressed their pain watching these church attacks and called for them to stop. When the Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary church was burned down in Fort Chipewyan, Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation elder Alice Rigney described the arson as an ‘attack on the community’s history.’ She added: ‘There is no reconciliation in this. It does not prove reconciliation at all.’”On May 22 2023, St. Bernard Catholic Church in Grouard, AB, was completely engulfed in flames after fires were intentionally set within its premises. The RCMP have since arrested two suspects as a result of the fire. The building, situated on the edge of Kapawe’no First Nation territory, could not be salvaged.On August 25 2022, firefighters responded to an arson at the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Catholic Church on the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation. The church was completely destroyed and a suspect was arrested two months later. Chief Adam’s comments were in response to this arson.Words came more easily to Viersen as he condemned his political adversaries for their refusal to condemn the fires.“It's outrageous that churches are being burnt down across the country. If any other faith community had over 80 places of worship desecrated or burnt down, Liberal and NDP MPs would be lining up to condemn this. But when the attacks come from radical left activists, these politicians are silent and only embolden these criminals.”
