Minister Carolyn Bennett urges Conservatives to kick Lynn Beyak out of caucus

Liberal cabinet minister Carolyn Bennett is urging the leader of the Official Opposition to kick Sen. Lynn Beyak out of the Conservative caucus.

Bennett, the minister for Crown-Indigenous relations, made the comments Tuesdayduring question period.

Beyak, who rose to notoriety in the spring by saying there were positives that came out of Canada's residential school system, is back in hot water for urging First Nations people to exchange their status cards "for a Canadian citizenship."

• Senator Lynn Beyak says First Nations should give up status cards
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• Andrew Scheer 'condemns' Lynn Beyak's take on First Nations issues, but leaves her in caucus

Bennett described Beyak's latest comments as offensive, hurtful and ill-informed.

In a letter posted last week on her website, Beyak urged Indigenous Canadians to accept a one-time payment for outstanding treaty and land claims and end the "guilt and blame."

After drawing criticism, Beyakwrote another open letter saying residential school survivors should be compensated immediately, and that too much money is going to lawyers and red tape instead of the people who deserve it.

Bennett is urging Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer to kick Beyak out of caucus, but Scheer has said while he disagrees with Beyak, she should leave on her own if she won't embrace his positive message.

Bennett calls on Scheer to kick Beyak out of caucus

7 years ago

Duration 0:31

Federal Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett called on Opposition Leader Andrew Scheer to kick controversial Senator Lynn Beyak out of the Conservative Caucus