Saturday, June 14, 2014

Tamara Johnson: Thunder Bay's Ann Coulter

Oh dear gawd, where do these people come from. Apparently, in this case, from a gift shop in the bowels of the Landmark Inn in Thunder Bay. It comes in the form of Tamara Johnson who could only be described as the Ann Coulter of Thunder Bay. Maybe a female version of Ezra Levant, the Sun News shit disturber that plays on extreme racial stereotypes to push forth far right ideas, with knee jerk, over the top reactionary rhetoric designed not to inform or make the world better, but simply to shock and piss people off. It's like a drug to folks like this. They seem to thrive on pissing people off, hurting people deeply, causing grief and just generally being ignorant pain in the asses. They accomplish little with their time in the spotlight other than that, really, and they have too much of an ego to see that what they are doing is completely unproductive.

So, this Tamara Johnson woman ran in the recent Ontario election in the riding of Thunder Bay- Superior North representing the Ontario Libertarian Party. Red flag? Indeed. As part of her campaign, just a few days prior to the election she put out a full page ad in the Chronicle Journal featuring her in some kind of a weird pose, looking like a cross between a high school kid trying to look sophisticated and a sophisticated lady looking like a high school kid. But, next to this rather odd image were a pile of words that caused a stir and for good reason.


Okay, wow, it sounds like Ontario has been taken over by money grubbing, ivory tower living, oppressive, ultra elite, ultra rich, super advantaged First Nations folks who have victimized poor Tamara to the point of tears. No wonder Ontario needs her! Only she can fight the unfair treatment that regular tax payers are facing as the result of the demands of Ontario's super citizen natives! She is the great white saviour for....whites. 

Now, I don't love jumping up and down and crying racist. But when the term is due, it's due. And here we have a textbook case of a racist. This is racism defined. The amount of ignorance crammed into the cheesy looking ad is ridiculous. It shows a complete lack of understanding, by a relatively well off white lady, towards the reality of life for First Nations peoples. It also shows a complete lack of understanding of Canadian history, the programs designed to force assimilation, the whole cultural genocide, the Residential school program, the fact that a Eurocentric system of governance and laws has been thrust on a population that didn't ask for it, etc. It shows a complete lack of understanding of treaties signed and promises made, which have often not been met anyway. Colonialism has been devastating to First Nations people in Canada. If there is a group in North America that can be described as oppressed, it is First Nations people. 

But, hark, somehow, we white people, and seemingly specifically Tamara, are the victims it would seem. How dare Natives get what they were promised. How dare Natives get high on their horse as super citizens and get unfair advantages and "handouts" that white people don't, thrusting them into a position of power and influence, giving them dominance and control over oppressed white people. Oh, wait, that's because that doesn't happen. It's the whites who have all the dominance and control. Damn, I guess Tamara didn't get the Facebook message. 

But, according to statements after she was criticized over this ad, she stands defiantly by them 100 percent and says that they are true. So, yes, apparently, Natives in Canada are the oppressors of the subjugated whites. And that's the truth, according to Tamara. Yes, she stands by that. Wow. At this point, can we say anything other than the fact that she is an idiot?

Now, I support her right to say these things, what with the whole free speech thing an all. Heck, in fact, I am more than glad she did run this ad. It shows how ridiculous and ignorant she truly is with a very racist agenda. In fact, it seems, based on this ad, that her entire agenda, her entire reason for running in the election was to stick it to the red man who has been oppressing whites for far too long. That appears to be about it. Her entire reason to run was based in racism! How pathetic is that! Imagine spending the time and money to try and get elected on a platform that seems based for the most part on hatred of an entire race. Why would you do that?? Has she been done horribly wrong or something? Has someone with brown skin caused her pain so she chooses to lash out in a knee jerk, random, stereotype driven way? What's the story here Tamara? I just don't get it. Well, wait, actually I do. Sadly, the rhetoric she uses is not all that uncommon in Thunder Bay, Northwestern Ontario, and here in my new home of Winnipeg. These worn out, tired and completely misguided stereotypes are repeated over and over when it comes to First Nations people. 

Basically, what I am saying, is that racism is rampant, brazen, open and generally accepted, in a way that it would not be accepted against almost any other group, and it has been this way for as long as I can remember. It's a part of the culture. It's just the way at has been, though hopefully not the way it will always be. Tamara coming forth with this ad has done the public a favour in helping to bring to surface the terrible reality of racism, and with her statements, she drew out some of the worst examples of racists in the area that supported her, loving her message of sticking it to Natives. This saddens me. It sickens me in fact. But, I look at it and wonder if this can be a catalyst for change. Maybe more people will look at what she has said, and will start changing views by getting educated about how her views are based in stereotypes and misconceptions. I, too, am on this journey, to grow and understand the relationship between Canada and it's First Nations people, often having to plow through this kind of racist bile to get to the truth. I now recognize more than ever just how dangerous ideas put forth by people like Tamara Johnson are. She is a racist. There is no two ways about this. Racist to the core. A text book example. And, as being such, we can learn from her. We can learn the direction NOT to take. We can look at the pain that she has created, the shitstorm she brewed, and the way she handles herself, in such a divisive and egotistical way, as a self centered, self serving bully with an over abundance of confidence and a complete deficit of understand and say , "I don't want to be that! I want to be better than that!" 

55 comments:

  1. oh shaddap about Tamara Hitler!

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  3. This is actually a pretty good analysis of the Tamara effect, it is dead bang on. I also find that it is good to have non-native people come forward to provide such analysis and commentary about the situation. When First Nations comment they are yelled down with, “Oh, come on get over it it” or “You are living off of or taking advantage of tax payers”. So its that good commentary comes from non-native quarters because I believe thats how justice and positive change gets moving and eventually is achieved. At least as far as I can gather from past experience.

    Thoughts from a super citizen...:-)

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  4. I agree with anonymous. Racism has to stop. Racism is alive and well, but if you want to call out someone else on it, don't turn around and do it right back. Don't stoop to her level people.she is one messed up person.

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  5. Ahh Tamara Johnston. I believe if she had a different angle and wasn't a racist she could actually have got some natives on her side. I want to believe in equality she thinks shes preaching but the way she presents herself and her band of righteous followers talk and express themselves are pretty vendetta filled, obviously a native person ticked them off or rubbed them the wrong way. Equality begins with peace. The threats Tamara complains about, it seems to be from our youth, who probably don't know how to react to her smut and feel threaten themselves. Guess whose going to be suffering for Tamara's ripple racist effect...yes the youth. How many native high school students have mysteriously died in Thunder Bay? I lived in thunder bay and paid income taxes while I worked, so I am still not sure what gravy train she thinks native people are on, all of my family and friends who live there pay taxes and own property like any other person. Also I think native people pay more into the economy then the actual "handouts"? It could go on and on how totally messed up her ideals and platform is...but to end my comment. I hope and pray that the first nation people in and around Thunder Bay prove how wrong her and followers are by living in solidarity with all of Thunder Bay.

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  6. This article is just diving down to Tamara's level. I imagine white people are just as offended at some of what is being said here just as we are all offended at what she said.

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    1. What do you find offensive in my post?

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    2. Just because Tamara fights for what she believes is preferential treatment towards the native people does not by any means make her a racist. My goodness she only got 1000 votes. And in most part due to her lack of any knowledge of anything. But here we are all my fellow brothers and sisters (myself included) adding to her moment in the spotlight by making ourselves look like the racist. Tamara got the votes she got due to her views. We can all laugh at that isn't that enough...?

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    3. Her singling out of one particular group with disdainful rhetoric, a facebook page full of racism, and a completely lack of understanding of history when it comes to First Nations people is what makes her a racist....and yes, she fights for what she believes in, which is a racist agenda. There is no two ways about this, she is racist. This seems to be her number one focus. It's almost an obsession based on her social media activity and this ad.

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  7. Although not from northern Ontario I have now lived here for the past 5 years. I have worked in several First Nations communities as well as spending a lot of time in sioux lookout and Dryden this year I was taken to a hockey game in Dryden that only Native people were allowed to participate in and I couldn't help but think if there was a sporting event put on that you could white people were allowed to play I bet it would be all over the news and Facebook. I just couldn't believe a tournament with such rules could take place in Canada in today's day and age.

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    1. Well, fair enough to a certain degree, but does the concern over that really need to be dealt with in such an over the top demonization of First Nations people?? In terms of the tournament, I don't know what the rules were, or the reasons behind them, so I can't comment. I won't say there aren't issues that can be worked on on all sides, BUT, with Tamara we have a case of pure racism guiding a political agenda that is not helpful or constructive in any way.

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    2. That hockey game was part of the Northern Bands tournament and, as the name states, is a tournament for the Northern First Nation reserves and their teams only. Its a tournament that requires a lot in terms of logistics(arenas, hotels, etc) that brings in teams from all the first nations north of sioux lookout. It exists in Canada with such rules because the Canadian state segregated first nations communities on to small tracts of land called reserves, destroyed much of the culture n language n isolated communities from the larger family(Nationhood.) and despite these efforts the northern bands still get together to play hockey. Its an event that brings in large revenue for local businesses and could help foster a better relationship in our lil city with large racist tendancies.

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  8. Still walk tall and proud through and by any race. Love being human. No race here

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  9. Death threats aren't cool. Not condoning it. BUT, racists who say horrible things will often find that there is a backlash. They seldom like to face the backlash feeling that they are free to say whatever they want and any backlash is an invasion of their free speech. I don't know a single person condoning any threats of violence. At the same time, I can see how they can come about. It's wrong, but racists tend not to see the damage they do to themselves, their victims or society in general. So, Tamara is as much to blame for the tension and anger (which sometimes manifests itself in dangerous ways) through her defiant, arrogant, bitter, mean spirited, racist, divisive and thoughtless rhetoric. She has made her bed and must lie in it. Violence is wrong, and cannot be tolerated, but racist and extreme right wing rhetoric is damaging.

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  10. This years murders did include white people....go back and check statistics.....and don't blame native youth for murdering their own, unless you know for sure. If you do, im sure there are some police officers that would like to speak to you...AND THAT is racist in itself..or at least ignorance....pretty ignorant to think that violence is normal within our community. only some perpetuate it and it can be traced back to so much that has happened to aboriginal people....im not saying its right, but it is what it is.....and I agree with Manic Expressive on the rest, no use in writing that response twice.....

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  11. The people crying racist must have a guilty conscience to think it is racist what T wrote. Every time a person other than caucasian is told something they don't want ro hear, they cry racism! I as a resident of Thunder Bay and huge tax payer am sick of everything being turned into racism!! I too believe in equally. I work for my money and so should everyone else! This includes ppl of my own race!

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  12. As an aboriginal living in thunder bay, I cannot even begin to express the amount of stress I have felt since the whole Tamara Johnson drama started. This race war is doing nothing productive on either side. She planted a seed into people's minds that we are basically stealing everyone's money, and nobody likes being told that their hard earned money is going to other people that didn't do the work. The truth is that their money is not going straight into our hands. And we shouldn't be treated like we are thieving from others. The tension is beyond words and needs to stop, I don't appreciate it and wouldn't wish it on anyone else, let alone a whole race. We all work hard to do what we have to survive, to provide and to live a life that we can look back on and not feel like we failed. Every race does. Also on one last note, equality is a beautiful thought, I see everyone as equal, their actions are what make them different, but there will never be equality. We may have equality in our hearts but the government will always put us into boxes and label us, don't follow their suit, don't fall for their labeled boxes. And please don't believe that a whole race is evil or out to take your money, we also work hard for the things we have, the homes we create for our family's and a majority of us work even harder to dig our way out of the typical stereotype that is forced upon us, Tamara Johnson has made it a little bit more difficult for those of us who try to be regular people and blend in to society. I Hope that we can all try to be equal in our hearts and push past the thick air of this "race war". It's suffocating our city.

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    1. Thanks for this important comment. I appreciate you posting here.

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  13. Let me ask this:

    If native people want equality, why do they need to have advantages with education, childcare, TAXES etc etc??

    Please someone give me an intelligent argument as to why in 2014, that people are given ADVANTAGES OVER OTHER PEOPLE?

    If not, please shut your mouth because Tamara has a point. Definitely not conveyed the right way, but a point. Black people have been oppressed for years-- why do Black people not have free education and tax breaks? Why when a black person works right next to a native person, the native person earns 30-40% more PLUS all of the other benefits?? So please shut-up now

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    1. Because of the recognition of a history of oppression, assimilation, and colonialism which had an extremely negative impact on Aboriginal people, which has impeded their ability to secure employment, education, etc.

      To accommodate for this, Canada has made these things more attainable (in terms of lower grades required to enter certain education programs, etc.) You'd be suprized to see that Aboriginal people(s) aren't "given" many advantages over non-Aboriginal Canadians. Most of the things were promised, by law, over 150 years ago.

      As for education, taxes, etc. you can read essentially any treaty you'd like online and it is within them you'll find the things the Canadian government promised the FN people's in return for them ceeding their land. You may not agree with it, but legally the Canadian government (at the time the British Crown) legally promised these things. To address your example directly, Black people do not have free education because it was not promised to them in a treaty.

      As for social programs that are Aboriginal specific, most of them are funded by the Canadian government through grants, that organizations must apply for. There are many programs geared to specific at-risk populations (people with disabilities, battered women, impoverished individuals, etc.)

      Back to your example - I am unsure what you are referring to when you say a "native person earns 30-40% more". Could you provide an example? Sincerely curious, as I've never heard of this occuring.

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    2. Yeah that maybe be true that we all should be equal ..so where is the $1000 bounty that Tamara will put up for me to find the white guys that threw pennies at me??? And called me a lazy squaw while all I was doing was walking down the street..please tamara fight for me equally..and put up my bounty...(rolling my eyes)oh wait no one cares about when we get put down or harassed racially...

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    3. sir because black people don't own the land you thrive on perhaps have a nice evening!

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  14. Hey marlene mckay ur racist comment about white ppl was postes at 5am let me guess just getting off your high and drunk....get up st 5am to work then u will be treated equally

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    1. Your comment is absolute nonsense.
      To deduce that an individual must be drunk or high simply by virtue of them posting at 5am is ludicrous.

      What is your occupation, may I ask? If I was to judge soley based on your comment (as you did to Ms. McKay) I'm assume it is one which does not require a high degree of intelligence.

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  15. There are 2 kinds of people in this world. The ones who get off there ass and fight for everything they have. And the ones who live off the government. I am in Fort McMurray and there is a big difference between the first nations here and there. In Fort Mac there are those that live off the system but there are also a lot more who work own company's. From what I have seen Tamera hasn't said anything racist.

    The truth is non native Canadians subsides first nations (I hate that word native I was born in Canada that makes me native) in all honesty tho I don't blame the average native its your chiefs fault after seeing the report that they were forced to put out of the pay wages they took I think you native folk should be furious. I have seen the conditions of some reserves that money should be going to help kids get educated not in some greedy chiefs pocket.

    As for the libertarian party I don't see why first nations wouldn't flock to it. We believe in property rights. We believe if they can prove homesteading over a property they have the rights to it. And with those rights they can put any stipulations on allowing company's to drill for oil and so on. Those stipulations can be obserd if they want ei if we let you dig our land you have to plant 1 million trees when you are done < just a example.

    I will also throw my 2 cents in about threatening Tamera. That is not right whether you agree with her or not there is no room in Canada to threaten someones life or there familys life. I people should be careful who they threaten because you never know who your talking to.

    Jessie

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  16. If only more people felt like tamara johnson this city would be a lot cleaner. I wouldnt have to worry about being harassed everytime i go for a walk if they hear change jingling in my pocket

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  17. Who where the white people murdered?

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  18. I like her, and listen to her

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  19. For many, the TRUTH is a painful reality !!

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  20. For many, the TRUTH is a painful reality !!

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  21. So many angry and ignorant people who don't know what they're whining about. Who the hell has advantages with education, child care and taxes? It comes with a big price and that price is being Aboriginal and being judged for being so no matter what circumstances are. And people seem to forget where they are...in Thunder Bay.....middle of no where, surrounded by what? Think about that. If you don't like it, then relocate. Aboriginals are not going any where. Deal with it, suck it up, and let people live their lives because it's no one's place to judge or discriminate or oppress or assimulate. This is why things are the way they are today.

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  22. How does any FN have an "unfair" advantage? Everything a FN person/band has is the result of treaty negotiations. The FN people ceded their land, and in return were promised things from the Canadian government (which, as the original author points out, were NOT fulfiled in many cases).

    Nothing unfair. It's the result of negotiations.

    Lets not forget that the FN people(s) were required to give up their land for these protections.

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  23. Do you have a source for this statistic?

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  24. It is a very sad commentary on our society that we have to differentiate between skin colour, statistics and finger pointing when murders are being committed in our community. I can't believe it matters at the end of the day, the colour of the victims! An eight year old child was killed not too long ago. Does it make us feel better if we can blame the killing on a certain colour of skin!? Stop the finger pointing and start supporting our Police Force, Council and support groups. This IS a serious problem in our City and spouting statistics and percentages related to skin colour is NOT the answer!

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    1. There is a systematic, country wide issue with missing and murdered Native women that should be seen as a unique issue that we need to get to the bottom of.

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  25. I think it's always been like this in Thunder Bay. I think with the publicity she's gotten this year has just made it more socially acceptable to say out loud what some were thinking. I'm native. I pay taxes. I paid for my own education. I was lucky enough to have a family who was aware enough to end the cycle of abuse and focus on education. Am I any better than other natives? No. But I don't understand how my being perceived as living like a non-native would make me a better person. My non-native friends always told me that I live like a white person, that I'm not the typical native. I am different. They don't see the condescending behavior. I'm a success story. I overcame my background. It makes me laugh. They don't realize how they sound. Growing up I was still the poor little Indian. We barely had food. Our clothes were dirty. The six of us lived in a bachelor pad and shared a pull out couch for a bed. I didn't have perfect manners. I was a target for racism. As a child I was tormented. It was harder off the reserve because often I would be followed home from school where I was yelled at, spit on, and often got into fights. Life wasn't easy. As I got older it slowed and eventually stopped. But the scars were there. Even with all I went through I had to believe not all white people were like that. People were basically good and I should not let the few bad skew my views on all people. We are all human. Yes we as native have certain rights due to treaties. But when those treaties were signed both sides received certain benefits and obligations. Both sides. Half way into our mortgages or loan payments we suddenly can't stop paying our financial institutions simply because we no longer agree to the terms. If we stop paying then what happens? The financial institution takes back whatever you obtained from your portion of the contract. I doubt that would ever happen in Canada's case. But what if they ever did want to renegotiate? Does anyone honestly think we would settle for less? We are more educated now. It would make sense to ask for more. I'm not saying that I think it should go this way. I think we should all just get along. If I knew enough after I went through to realize that I shouldn't judge all based on a few, then why can't the rest of society. There are always bad apples out there. There are always going to be people who need help. To me it always made more sense to help those in need instead of judging them. I don't care what race they are.

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    1. Thank you very much for your comment here. Well said, well laid out, excellently put. Everyone should read what you wrote here. More people need to read this viewpoint! Very much appreciated.

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  26. Well, the problem is, that there is a systematic problem with racism that has created a lot of tension and anger. I don't agree with hating all white people or comparing them to Hitler, but I understand the anger and negative feelings that are had by those who have faced racism. The fact is, racism in Thunder Bay is very bad, and people like Tamara Johnson reflect that perfectly.

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  27. You will find everything you need here in this article. Its about an Aboriginal chief that transforms his reserve into a nearly self sustaining place. Government gave him some money they did, so he took that money, invested it in training and education for his people and look at them now. It kind of almost seems like a little hard work and perseverance will yield positive results. Who would have thought?

    http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-magazine/clarence-louie-feature/article18913980/

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    1. And everything I need to know is in that article? This article sums up hundreds of years of colonialism and the effects of it?

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  28. And the point of this is? Is the implication once again that natives are lazy? In these comments, we have Natives telling us that they are hardworking, tax paying citizens. And you ignore it completely and post this, implying what exactly? Once again, the same racist trash as Tamara spews out and it STILL does not address some of the major points, which include lack of understanding of treaty rights, racism and lack of empathy and understanding, etc. It shows a lack of understanding of what the genocidal acts of residential schools did to native families, communities and the culture, and how it's NOT going to just jump back to life instantly because European decendants want it to. Again, it just shows a stereotypical view of natives.

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  29. Tamara is Sooooooooo Hot!!

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    1. She sure is... If your thing is beef jerky wrinkles and orange cover girl makeup

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  30. Your original post is so completely on point. You sum up my point of view exactly when it comes to Tamara Johnson's extremely troubling and racist platform. Very well said. I haven't had the chance to slog through all of these comments, but some of what I'm seeing is making me want to put my head in a hole in the ground for the foreseeable future. Hey, white people, stop. Crying about "racist remarks about white people" is seriously embarrassing. That's not a thing. We know nothing of the kinds of appalling and systemic ill-treatment that Indigenous populations have been subjected to for decades and decades, so please stop making complete fools of yourselves. So many people in this city need to remove their heads from their asses (I say this as someone who was born, raised, and still lives in Tbay). Thank you for an excellent analysis.

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  31. "racist towards whites"....now THAT is funny! - go and do some learning ffs.
    SMH.
    After all that has been going on here in TBay since the spring election and all the way through and beyond the municipal election, that particular candidate hasn't stopped with her bs rants on everything that has to do with Aboriginal.
    +10,000 voters?...not enough! Over 1/2 of eligible voters didn't care to vote, not even for her so-called platform. The only thing she has accomplished is to bring out other racists like herself to hide behind her "we need to do something about the crime rate" rants. And to prove this, she puts a bounty on some young people! FFS, let the police do their job! And then she goes and asks questions about our city and it's departments etc, when she was running for a position on city council?! She should have done her damn homework!!
    Anyway, at the end of the day and after all of this, what is she going to do about it? What are any of those +10,000 people who wasted their vote going to do about the things they are whining about? Nothing. They can't do anything! At the end of the day, there are way more people than that group who have common sense. Plain and simple, common sense. So let them whine about everything Aboriginal because it's only making them look like the ignorant fools they are. And who the hell said Aboriginals wanted to be your "equal" anyway?! LOL
    I know, they just want a status card and a gas card, right? Well, too damn bad. "Get over it", you can't have either :P

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  32. She has admitted their was no death threat from the officer but let it persist. The problems she caused to people while admitting her lack of education on natives and our laws certainly nothing that gave her credibility.

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  33. No death threat was received from the officer however a nasty letter was and she has admitted this. This was a rumour which was allowed to persist for some tome but she finally admitted.

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  34. June 15 406 best to check your facts not rely on rumour. Wrong police and she admitted no death threat but I do think letter was vile and ill conceived in anger by some not on active service

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