Saskatoon Conservative MP Maurice Vellacott says nasty partisan politics -- not his own verbal gaffes -- forced his resignation as chair of the parliamentary committee on aboriginal affairs Wednesday, just two weeks after his controversial appointment to the job.
In a prepared statement sent to media outlets a few hours before a scheduled non-confidence vote was expected to bring about his ouster, Vellacott blasted the Liberals for poisoning the tone of the committee.
"They seem to think that they have some divine right to govern and it is greatly upsetting to them when the public judges otherwise," Vellacott wrote.
"Unfortunately, in this case, I fear that their agenda of bitter partisanship will submerge aboriginal issues and make it extremely difficult to accomplish anything on behalf of our aboriginal brothers and sisters in this committee in this Parliament. I dearly hope it turns out otherwise."
Vellacott said his recent comments suggesting Beverley McLachlin, chief justice of the Supreme Court, had claimed in a speech last year that she and her fellow justices played God with the law -- for which he later apologized -- appear "on the surface" to have precipitated the non-confidence motion.
"However, in recent days, other issues have been pointed out in which I have attempted to give voice to the voiceless and vulnerable," Vellacott wrote. (source)
