Mayor Ron Paull denies recommending the book Grave Error to other elected officials within the Cariboo Regional District (CRD).
Controversy first sparked up a few weeks ago when it came to light that Paull’s wife Pat Morton was distributing the collection of essays that collectively dismiss the traumas and atrocities of residential schools. Quesnel’s First Nations communities protested to Quesnel council of being unable to trust a government-to-government partnership if one of the parties believed the devastation caused by these schools was something to be downplayed or even repudiated.
Paull voted on a unanimously carried set of motions made on Mar. 19 to denounce the book, spotlight the findings of the Truth And Reconciliation Commission, and reaffirm a positive relationship between the government of Quesnel and the government of the Lhtako Dene Nation.
Then, during the week, came the accusation in the public council meeting that Paull himself was circulating the book.
Coun. Laurey-Anne Roodenburg said she had conversed with two CRD officials who confirmed Paull himself was suggesting the residential school book to them as reading material.
“At a CRD board meeting a couple or few weeks earlier, Ron did have a book in his possession. As he walked past my chair at the board table, he casually asked if I was familiar with the book and did I want to read it?,” said 100 Mile House mayor Maureen Pinkney. “I responded that I have enough reading with all the material given for both the CRD and mayoral positions, all my other hats in the community, no time, I did not have time to read novels, so no thank you. I was aware of the nature of the content of the book but have never read a single page.”
Margo Wagner, chair of the CRD, told the Observer she had a similar encounter.
“Mayor Paull also asked me if I was interested in reading the book as it was an interesting read. I politely declined and said I was not interested and walked away from the conversation,” said Wagner.
At the Quesnel meeting, Paull said he wanted to respond to the false accusation that he was handing out the book.
“What happened is …. we had a discussion at the regional board about some books that were in one of the local libraries …. there was some discussion going on about some books that were characterized as disturbing and they were about SOGI ... and I had a copy of the book, just to show them what would happen if we tried to get that book into the library. I did not offer it, I was just using it as an example to make a point. I have not distributed that book to anyone.”
Paull is personally the subject of censure consideration by the remainder of Quesnel city council, and Lhtako Dene Nation and Nazko First Nation pledged they will not work with council with Paull at the helm.
