The MLA for Tu Nedh茅-Wiilideh has lashed out at the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 minister of Health and Social Services for a SA国际影视传媒渃ondescending, dismissive and belittlingSA国际影视传媒� internal email, saying he will support a motion to have her removed from her portfolio SA国际影视传媒渁t the earliest opportunity.SA国际影视传媒�

The comments were part of an internal Legislative Assembly email chain that was obtained by SA国际影视传媒.

The dispute arose out of comments MLA Richard Edjericon made to SA国际影视传媒 as part of an April 27 report on the state of health services in Fort Resolution. In that report, Edjericon was quoted as saying local health workers SA国际影视传媒渄onSA国际影视传媒檛 take their job seriously,SA国际影视传媒� and that residents of small communities donSA国际影视传媒檛 have access to the same quality of service as the larger communities.

Green responded on April 29 with an email to Edjericon, whom she refers to in the message as SA国际影视传媒淩ick.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚 know you are a new MLA learning the ropes,SA国际影视传媒� Green wrote. SA国际影视传媒淵our trip to Fort Resolution with an NNSL report [sic] for a public session on health concerns raises some red flags.SA国际影视传媒�

She cricitized Edjericon for his comments about healthcare workers, who are not permitted to respond publicly. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 not sure if you considered the impact of your public remarks but I anticipate they are demoralizing and will make recruitment and retention of health care staff even more difficult in Fort Resolution.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚 hope you have found this information useful and enourage you to bring your constituentsSA国际影视传媒� concerns directly to me in the future,SA国际影视传媒� the email concludes.

Edjericon responded with his own email on May 12, copying every member of the Legislative Assembly.

SA国际影视传媒淎s a nonindigenous, medium tenure Cabinet Minister writing to a newly elected, indigenous ordinary member, the email in both tone and content is entirely inappropriate,SA国际影视传媒� he wrote.

SA国际影视传媒淏oth indigenous and nonindigenous residents of the Northwest Territories know well that the history of Canada is filled with communications such as that that you provided to me. As both a cabinet minister and a nonindigenous resident of the Northwest Territories you must be careful how you communicate to your indigenous colleagues.SA国际影视传媒�

He demanded a SA国际影视传媒渇ull and formal apologySA国际影视传媒� from Green SA国际影视传媒渞eflecting your consideration of the communication and your promise to reconsider how you communicate with your peers, particularly those of an indigenous background.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚 will not be made silent because staff feels bad that a voice is being given to people who feel the service levels are not up to the national standard. In the experience of the people affected this is a truth SA国际影视传媒� to ignore that truth and marginalize the indigenous community because it is a difficult or inconvenient conversation is an antiquated relic of colonialism.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚 have lost confidence in your ability to serve as Northwest Territories Minister of Health and Social Services and will support a motion to have you removed from the Health and Social Services Portfolio at the earliest opportunity.SA国际影视传媒�

On May 13, Green then responded with her own message, saying SA国际影视传媒淚 regret that you interpreted my earlier email as condescending or disrespectful. That was never my intent. I agree with you that our interactions as Ministers and MLAs should be respectful.

SA国际影视传媒淏oth as a non-Indigenous resident and the Minister of Health and Social Services, I am committed to living and leading in a way that deepens cultural respect and safety and responds to the historical impacts of colonization and discrimination in all forms. Living to these principles requires listening, dialogue and being open to the experiences of my Indigenous colleagues and the people we serve.

SA国际影视传媒淗aving a strong, respectful relationship with colleagues is important to me as an MLA and as a Minister. I welcome the opportunity to meet with you in person to discuss your concerns about the tone and appropriateness of my correspondence to you. I would recommend that we invite the Premier and the principal secretary to join the discussion.SA国际影视传媒�

Edjericon told SA国际影视传媒 he was SA国际影视传媒渄isappointedSA国际影视传媒� the messages leaked.

He doubled down on his accusations that Green exploited a racial power imbalance: SA国际影视传媒淭he thing that comes to mind when I read that email, for me, was growing up in a small community in Fort Resolution, all we heard growing up was SA国际影视传媒楤e quiet, stand in the corner, and donSA国际影视传媒檛 say anything.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淭hose days are done; ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 what I thought, but itSA国际影视传媒檚 alive and well, as you could see.SA国际影视传媒�