Vellacott resigns chairmanship

Maurice Vellacott has resigned as chair of the Commons Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, just 10 days after he took on the role.

The Conservative MP for Saskatoon-Wanuskewin was a controversial choice to chair the committee because of his support for two Saskatoon police officers convicted of unlawful confinement in 2004 for dropping Darrell Night off on the outskirts of the city in sub-zero temperatures. But it was his suggestion that Supreme Court judges believe they have god-like powers that put him in a position where he had to either resign or face being forced out by the Liberal members of the committee.

Vellacott, who had previously co-chaired the standing committee, was elected as its chair on May 1. He resigned from the chairmanship on May 10.

In announcing his decision, Vellacott praised the Conservative government's commitment to "do right by Aboriginal people" and blamed the "reckless partisan nature" of the Liberal members of the committee for his departure.

"I fear that their agenda of bitter partisanship will submerge Aboriginal issues and make it extremely difficult to accomplish anything productive on behalf of our Aboriginal brothers and sisters in this committee in this Parliament," he said. "I am saddened as I voluntarily remove myself from this committee, in that I had hoped, before this earthly life is over, in some modest way, to contribute to improving living conditions for First Nations, Metis and Inuit."

Colin Mayes, Conservative MP for Okanagan-Shuswap, has been elected to replace Vellacott as committee chair.