A Manitoba legislature member faced criticism Thursday for saying the farmer who killed Colten Boushie in a high-profile case in Saskatchewan was a victim.
Opposition Progressive Conservative member Josh Guenter made the comment while debating a resolution in the legislature about the rights of people to defend their homes with force if necessary.
Eric Redhead, a member of the NDP government, accused Guenter of engaging in rhetoric that could lead to more deaths like that of Boushie, a Cree man shot a decade ago near Biggar, Sask.
Gerald Stanley was acquitted of second-degree murder after testifying that he thought Boushie and others were on his property to steal vehicles. Stanley said his gun went off accidentally when he confronted Boushie.
“The farmer was the victim, and he was acquitted … by a jury,” Guenter said.
Premier Wab Kinew called Guenter’s words hateful and divisive.
“As somebody who spent time with the family of Colten Boushie, I would encourage the member … to reach out to that family and apologize for the comments he made,” Kinew said later in question period.
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Stanley’s trial was filled with racial tension and the verdict was met with outrage from Boushie’s relatives and their supporters.
Court heard that Boushie, 22, was one of five people in an SUV that drove into Stanley’s farmyard in August 2016. Those who were with Boushie testified they were looking for help with a flat tire but had tried to break into a truck on another farm beforehand.
Stanley testified that he thought the group was trying to steal an all-terrain vehicle on his property and heard it start up.
He said he fired warning shots to scare away the group and was concerned his wife might have been run over by the SUV. He said he reached for the keys in the SUV’s ignition, and the gun accidentally went off.
Boushie, who was in the driver’s seat, died instantly from a single bullet to the back of the head.
Kinew said Guenter’s comment is the latest in a string of divisive remarks by Tory politicians and called on leader Obby Khan to address the issue.
Kinew pointed to the 2023 election campaign, when the then-Tory government ran campaign ads promoting its decision not to search a landfill for the remains of Indigenous women who were victims of a serial killer.
Guenter said he wouldn’t apologize for his remark about the Stanley trial and that it didn’t involve race.
“I think Manitobans would look at that issue and say, ‘Hey, if someone’s on my yard, potentially going to inflict harm on myself or my family,’ they’re going to protect themselves and their loved ones,” Guenter told reporters.
Guenter was asked whether he considers Boushie a victim as well.
“I think it’s incredibly unfortunate that he was on that property. I think what happened is obviously a tragedy. No matter what way you look at it, any time there’s a loss of life, it’s a tragedy, and our hearts go out to all those impacted. Absolutely.”
“Colten Boushie should not have been on that property,” Guenter said when asked a second time.
The resolution, put forward by Guenter and debated for an hour Thursday without passing, called on the legislative assembly to ask the federal government to toughen the Criminal Code.
It wants Ottawa to “clearly establish that a person is justified in using reasonable force, including deadly force, to protect themselves, their family, others or their home when an individual unlawfully enters or attempts to enter their dwelling and is reasonably perceived to pose a threat to life or safety.”
Sad to see a life lost, but they made the choice to try break- ins and theft after drinking. Anyone in that situation would’ve defended their home and property, be it a White man or First Nations.
The gun going off was just bad luck, Tokarev TT 30s not having an actual safety and the degraded ammo from Czech Surplus didn’t help either.
If self- defense laws weren’t so grossly in favor of the perpetrator, this would’ve been an open and shut case.
The defense that Stanley thought the pistol was empty, and the hang-fire that occurred caused Boushie’s death was supported by the bulged cartridge case found on the dashboard, but relying on anecdotal evidence from hunters to prove this was sloppy. This was a murder trial, and they should have brought an armourer in from Russia who could testify about documented cases of that happening with that model of pistol, and that vintage of ammunition as an expert witness.
Cee, the farmer got away with self defence. Does it make you very sad?
Hey WAP. Interesting fact is that these Indian hoodlums had been stopping in to farmyards after a day of drinking and doing drugs to vandalize and steal stuff. This happened when bumped into a guy that defended himself and his family. The good news is one less criminal in the world, the bad news is low information liberal racist sycophants like you continue to ignore reality
It’s absolutely terrible the farmer got away with murder…we’re going backwards I’m afraid.
Wab’s true colours are showing.
Tell the truth.
They were all drunk
There was a gun in the car.
They tried to steal a quad
They assaulted Stanleys wife
Stanley is the victim. The result was tragic but they were not looking for help with a flat tire.
Interesting fact that is totally ignored. The farm equipment that was stolen in the area was by another White farmer, and he got “house arrest”for his crimes. Because he had crops to harvest. Yes the Saskatchewan justice (sic) system is slanted. Like the woman who killed an indigenous child, the court fumbled around and dropped the case against the white driver Year Round open season and it’s been this way forever
I remember a news item about farmers in that area facing a rash of thefts of vehicles from their property before the death of Colten Boushie. And he died after continuing to tamper with a vehicle after being ordered to cease by its owner. Wab Kinew’s reaction to legitimate concern about crime is the sort of thing that drives people to Trump-style bigotry and extremism.
more of this protecting your property has to happen as thefts get worse
Stupid government. Stupid justice system. TELL ME WHEN are we allowed to shot someone that is TRESSPASSING on our property WITHOUT OUR CONSENT and possibly or even accidently kill them? Should we just stand there and let them take our vehicles and maybe even our lives since most criminals today seem to have access to illegal guns unlike the rest of us who are NOT ALLOWED to PROTECT OURSELVES from dying.
Kinew only represents one small section of the population. He is wrong about this and should resign. He is fuelling race wars, not solving them.
Nothing to do with race. They trespassed onto his property making him feel unsafe.. period. Farmer is the Victim. Unfortunately it resulted in a death. I feel for his family yes… but he was in the wrong. Kinew get your stuff in order. You look like a fool standing for the criminal 🤦🏼♀️
The opposition MLA is right, this was never about race. A criminal is a criminal, regardless of their background.
Driving into someones yard, wanting help with a flat… no wonder they were not believed.
The farmer was the victim. It does not matter the ancestry of the robber, it is their deed. A home owner has the right to defend their property. The politician is right.
Kinew owes the apology. It had nothing to do with race.