BPC Bulletin: Circulation of Book about Indian Residential Schools Leads to Censure of Quesnel's Mayor
News Reports and Commentary Selected by Franklin Carter of the Book and Periodical Council’s Freedom of Expression Committee.
In Quesnel, B.C., after Pat Morton, the wife of Mayor Ron Paull, circulated a controversial book about Indian residential schools, members of the Indigenous population said that the book offended, disrespected, and traumatized them.
The book is C. P. Champion and Tom Flanagan's Grave Error: How the Media Misled Us (and the Truth about Residential Schools). Mayor Paull had not read the book.
Leaders of the Lhtako Dene nation, Indian residential school survivors, and the chiefs of other First Nations in the province called for Mayor Paull's resignation. The mayor refused to resign. The Lhtako Dene nation also barred the mayor from entering their territory unless they chose to invite him.
Quesnel's city council unanimously denounced Grave Error. The council also unanimously censured Mayor Paull, stripping him of his travel and lobbying budgets and removing him from some committees.
A dispute over the censure's fairness is now before the Supreme Court of British Columbia.
[Editorial note: the published reports in this bulletin are listed in chronological order. The newest report (July 31) appears near the top. The oldest report (March 20) appears near the bottom.]
REPORTAGE
In My Prince George Now, Darin Bain reports:
Quesnel City Council extends censure and sanctions against Mayor Ron Paull - My Prince George Now
In My Prince George Now, Darin Bain reports:
City of Quesnel responds to petition filed against it by Mayor Ron Paull - My Prince George Now
In The Williams Lake Tribune, Austin Kelly reports:
City of Quesnel responds to mayor's legal challenge - The Williams Lake Tribune (wltribune.com)
CBC News reports. The story includes files from Andrew Kurjata and Betsy Trumpener.
City of Quesnel seeks to dismiss mayor's lawsuit over censuring | CBC News
In the Prince George Citizen, Mark Nielsen reports:
Censuring Quesnel mayor 'reasonable,' city says in response to legal action - Prince George Citizen
Andrew Kurjata of CBC News reports:
Quesnel mayor censured, banned from First Nation's land | CBC News
Todd Coyne of CTV News reports:
B.C. mayor censured over book questioning Indigenous residential schools | CTV News
In The Williams Lake Tribune, Frank Peebles reports:
Chiefs call for Quesnel mayor Ron Paull’s resignation - The Williams Lake Tribune (wltribune.com)
In The Hamilton Spectator, Tom Summer reports:
Quesnel's Board of Education denounces Residential School denialism book (thespec.com)
Adam Berls of CKPG Today reports:
Adam Berls of CKPG Today reports:
In the Agassiz-Harrison Observer, Frank Peebles reports:
CBC Lite reports:
In the Vancouver Sun, Tom Summer reports:
Quesnel address harm by Mayor’s wife deny Residential School history | Vancouver Sun
In My Cariboo Now, George Henderson reports:
Quesnel City Council members condemn the actions of the Mayor's wife - My Cariboo Now
COMMENTARY
In The New Westminster Times, Jim McMurtry comments:
Protest over a book that no one will read | News | newwesttimes.com
The Book and Periodical Council was formed in 1975 as the Book and Periodical Development Council to provide a venue for members to discuss industry issues, address mutual concerns and undertake projects for the benefit of Canadian writing and publishing.
