Iqaluit councillor resigns from city council over social media post

IQALUIT, Nunavut — An Iqaluit city councillor has resigned over comments she made on social media last week about the Black Lives Matter movement.

At a meeting last night, city council unanimously passed a motion calling for the resignation of Malaiya Lucassie.

Lucassie issued a statement today saying she would resign immediately.

The resignation comes after Lucassie’s father, Nunavut legislature member Patterk Netser, made a Facebook post last week criticizing Black women for having abortions.

Soon after, the premier stripped Netser of his cabinet portfolios.

Lucassie had commented on her father’s Facebook post, saying “All lives matter” and questioning why there wasn’t a similar movement to Black Lives Matter for Indigenous people.

In her resignation statement, Lucassie apologized for her comments and expressed support for Black Lives Matter.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 14, 2020.

The Canadian Press