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Two complaints are set to be made to the Integrity Commissioner for the City of Regina about Ward 7 Coun. Terina Shaw.
One of the complaints was filed by community activist Florence Stratton, who collected 47 signatures asking for the city to investigate the recent conduct of Shaw and comments she has made about the Indigenous community. Another is set to be submitted by the Regina Treaty/Status Indian Services (RT/SIS).
The two groups making complaints say Shaw has made racist comments towards the Indigenous community in the past and they want her held accountable for her actions.
Stratton’s letter to CJME outlines Shaw made comments at an executive committee meeting where she implied that Indigenous men are sexual predators. Another comment made on June 15 at city council stated that some Indigenous Peoples choose to be homeless.
Those comments made at the June 15 meeting sparked outrage, with Mayor Sandra Masters making a public apology on Shaw’s behalf at the File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council Chiefs’ Forum, as well as at the June 29 meeting of city council.
Stratton feels Shaw’s actions have gone on for too long.
“I see the complaint as part of an ongoing struggle against racism in our city and society. Councillor Shaw is in a position of authority in Regina and her racist statements make racist behaviour by others acceptable,” she explained. “It seems to me it’s necessary to speak out against all racist behaviour to make clear that such conduct is not acceptable.”
As mentioned, Stratton collected 47 signatures in support of her complaint to the Integrity Commissioner.
She mentioned those signatures were only collected over a few days and thinks she could’ve gotten more if she had more time.
“Maybe with a little more time, we would’ve had 200, 300 signatures,” she said.
Stratton mentioned her original goal was to collect 20 signatures.
Erica Beaudin, executive director of RT/SIS, says she reached out to Shaw several times after the comments were made.
Beaudin alleges in her letter that Shaw had said her comments were straight from her. Beaudin suggests that wasn’t the case at all, and that she was willing to talk to Shaw. The two have not chatted since.
“On June 23, 2022, the day the story broke about the racist and incorrect remarks that Councillor Shaw stated that I made, I extended an olive branch to the councillor to meet privately so we could work through the incorrect remarks before RT/SIS, FHQTC and FSIN responded publicly,” the statement read.
“She chose to lawyer up and further, control the parameters of our meeting by sending a list of dates which demonstrated her continued lack of priority for us to work together. After hearing Shaw’s remarks to the media on June 24 in response to the RT/SIS, FHQTC and FSIN joint release, it was clear that a meeting would not be reconciliatory and in fact, may cause more harm to the Indigenous and city relationship.”
That led to Beaudin wanting to file a complaint.
The city held a press conference Tuesday regarding the complaint filed by Stratton last Friday to the Integrity Commissioner.
It outlined there are a few steps that need to happen in order for Shaw to be held accountable.
“Any formal complaints filed with the Integrity Commissioner are kept confidential while the investigation is being conducted,” said city clerk Amber Ackerman. “The Integrity Commissioner is required to report to the complainant and the member of council no longer than 90 days after the receipt of the request for the investigation of the complaint.
“City council shall consider and respond to the investigation report from the Integrity Commissioner within 90 days after the report is provided to the executive committee of the city council.”
If council determines the report is worthy of discipline, council can then decide a punishment.
“Possible sanctions may include a reprimand, requiring the member apologizes to those impacted, requiring educational training, removing the member from council committees or other bodies, or dismissing the member or chairperson of a council committee,” Ackerman said.
“I will note, city council is not permitted the authority under the statue that governs them to remove a member of council from office.”
Stratton hopes this can educate everyone about racism and the role it plays in society.
“A wonderful outcome would be if Terina Shaw could see she’s making racist statements (and) that she would understand her own racism,” Stratton said. “General education of all of us, a transformation of society is my long-term goal — to get beyond the racism.”