Criticism of Charles Adler’s Senate Appointment

The appointment of broadcaster Charles Adler to the Senate has stirred up quite a bit of controversy.

Adler, who has been a well-known figure in radio, was recently chosen by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to represent Manitoba.

However, not everyone is happy with this decision. Dan Vandal, a minister from Manitoba, stated that there are many other residents who would be better suited for the role.

In addition, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs is urging Trudeau to revoke Adler’s appointment. They are raising concerns about Adler’s past comments, which they describe as offensive towards Indigenous people.

Adler has faced backlash for using derogatory terms like “boneheads” when referring to Indigenous leaders during his time on CJOB in Winnipeg. While Adler chose not to give an interview about the criticism, the Assembly pointed out that Canada seems to overlook his problematic remarks.

This isn’t the first time Adler’s words have faced scrutiny. A complaint filed against him in 1999 was examined by the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council, which later ruled that his comments qualified as fair commentary.

Grand Chief Cathy Merrick of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs expressed doubts about how someone with Adler’s history could properly support Indigenous communities in the Senate.

Despite the backlash, Adler has mentioned on social media that being critiqued is nothing new for him and that he anticipates continuing to face criticism in his new Senate role.

Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, has voiced that having someone like Adler in the Senate is painful for many and hopes he will engage with Indigenous communities to learn from them.