Senator Dennis Patterson of Nunavut abandons Conservative caucus: ‘This country is divided’ – National

Nunavut Conservative Senator Dennis Patterson says he has left Careful meeting behind closed doors after failing to see some of his colleagues condemn the ongoing protests in Ottawa against COVID-19 medical duty.

He also said that when Erin O’Toole was ousted from the leadership of the Conservative Party last week, he did not feel confident that a future leader could support a “more focused approach, more progressive, solution-oriented.”

“This is the Conservative Party, known as the party of law and order, and I am deeply saddened by the lawlessness and disregard for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and its hateful symbols, disgusting (like the Nazi swastika) Patterson said.

The convoy of trucks blocking the city center of the national capital was seen by many attendees as a “peaceful” protest against the public health measures currently in place to combat COVID-19 .

However, some people organize convoys, have a well-documented relationship with white supremacists and there have been numerous instances of stained Nazi, Confederate and Canadian flags being waved by individuals in the crowd last week.

“The country is divided,” Patterson said. “To me, obviously there is a very strong voice in the public in favor of the vaccine missions as well as perhaps 90% of the truckers, so there are strong voices in the public. ”

However, he said he hoped for more voice among Conservative MPs and the Senate caucus “wake up.”

“They need to be more vocal and help bring us back to the center line which is frankly the only path to power for us.”

On Friday, Conservative Party leader Candice Bergen released a statement about the ongoing protests in Ottawa, urging truck drivers in Ottawa to keep the peace.

“Call for and denounce any act of hatred, racism, intolerance or violence,” she said. “Canadians and Conservatives have heard you speak loud and clear.

“Regardless of politics, we all want an end to the protests and we all want an end to restrictions.”

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Although Patterson has left the caucus, he said he remains a member of the Conservative Party.

He has also joined the Canadian Senators Group, a “nonpartisan” parliamentary group in the Canadian Senate, where he will continue to represent and demonstrate support for voices in his region.

“The second largest Inuit community in Canada after my hometown of Iqaluit is Ottawa. There are thousands of Inuit living in Ottawa who come here for health care, work, education, and some end up being homeless on the streets,” said Patterson.

“And I have heard very strong voices from the Inuit community and their representatives in Ottawa that they are feeling insecure and unsafe in the face of this ongoing hostage situation,” he said. refers to convoy blockades.

He also added that people from his area were “deeply offended and traumatized” by images of white supremacists appearing at the protests.

“Voices from my own district and my constituents in Ottawa, as well as in Nunavut, have also urged me to take a stand and disarm myself.”