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Online crime page comments raise racial backlash in Lac La Biche region

Troubling online comments attributed to municipal employee

Comments made through a regional social media crime watch page have sparked widespread controversy and fuelled a racially-charged debate centering on the Lac La Biche region.

"Heads up Hylo people, just had a guy walk through our front yard from our field at 7:30 am .... Real rough looking native guy wearing camo pants and a greenish brown jacket .... wanted to use the phone ... told him to keep walking to the highway"

That posting on the well-used crime watch site resulted in follow-up comments.

"Think it's time to buy a backhoe" and "I have a grinder"  "or pigs".

One of those comments is reportedly attributed to an employee of the local municipality, sending many of those offended by the words to challenge municipal officials to answer for the comments and take action.

Lac La Biche County's chief administrative officer Ken Van Buul was contacted by Lakeland This Week, but said he wouldn't comment about personnel issues. He did acknowledge the complexity of the overall issue relating to culture and racial relations, and the need for it to be carefully addressed.

"This whole issue is so broad, and deep and complex, and we aren't going to deal with it in one interview," he said when asked about the underlying factors leading up to the recent incident.

By admitting that the issue needs to be addressed — but realizing there is no easy starting point, Van Buul said he and his municipal  staff want to make sure the public knows the allegations and the over-arching issue are being taken very seriously. "We're not minimizing the issue in any way, shape or form."

With the accusation hanging over one of the municipal employees, as well as a general backlash from many social media commenters against an overall racist tone in the community, Van Buul says the mix of ethnic and cultural backgrounds in the community — and in his workplace — is what makes the region vibrant.

"As an organization, from a staffing perspective — the personnel — this is one of the most diverse workforces I've ever worked for. I don't think we're perfect, but I definitely wouldn't consider our organization to be racist."

Without commenting on the specific employee, Van Buul said the municipality does have a code of conduct policy and a social media policy for all staff.

"The general gist is that you don't say anything that puts the County or yourself in disrepute," he said. "We're not trying to stifle free speech, but with that being said, we are an employer just like any other employer and one of the biggest things we have to protect is our reputation."

When accusations of this sort arise, the administrative boss says action is taken immediately to investigate and properly evaluate. That investigation is done internally.

"We're not going to let social media dictate how we are going to deal with this," he said, explaining that a community-wide partnership may be necessary to move forward from this incident. 

Believing that the current spotlight — which has been picked up by media sources across Canada, and social media commentary from across North America — has many factors, Van Buul sees a need for conversations not only on racial education, but also on the "deep-rooted" issues associated with crime, socio-demographics and marginalized populations.

"It's a conversation in our society that has to happen," he said.

Mayor 'won't tolerate it'

Lac La Biche County Mayor Omer Moghrabi told Lakeland This Week he sees the controversy as part of a multi-pronged concern. 

On a staffing level, he firmly believes that no civil servant hired to provide services to residents should express themselves in a way that harms their organization or the residents. Having an opinion is fine, said the mayor, but knowing how to express it is the key.

"When you make those kinds of comments ... we won't tolerate it. You just don't say things like that."

He says the matter will be carefully examined by municipal staff. 


moghrabi facebook pageLac La Biche County Mayor Omer Moghrabi used his own social media platform to explain his belief of the community's stance on racism


The concerns have also raised awareness toward rural crime, says the mayor, adding that the uptick in local crime has put all residents on edge

The biggest factor, however, says the mayor, is the racial overtones that have emerged from the comments.

Taking to his social media page on Friday night, the mayor wrote he was both "horrified" and "embarrassed" to read the comments.

"We strive to be an inclusive and welcoming municipality, and our community’s true strength comes from our diversity," he noted on his mayoral social media page. "Racism in all its forms is unacceptable and inconsistent with our values as a community."

Moghrabi hopes to turn the spotlight currently on the community towards finding a way to combat the larger issues. He says the concerns have been heard loud and clear, and he hopes to host forums and discussions with community members from all cultures. But just exactly how a plan will unfold to address the issues is something that will need much more detail and much-needed partnerships.

"It is something we will have to discuss with council as a whole and the community members within the county and those bordering us, our First Nations and Metis communities."

Editor's Note: Lakeland This Week did send requests to several people who contacted our office to express their concerns over the comments. Only one has responded to requests for an interview, but that conversation can't be arranged until after the newspaper's deadline. Her comments will be in the digital version of this story at www.lakelandtoday.ca when the interview is completed.



Rob McKinley

About the Author: Rob McKinley

Rob has been in the media, marketing and promotion business for 30 years, working in the public sector, as well as media outlets in major metropolitan markets, smaller rural communities and Indigenous-focused settings.
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