MLA rephrases himself after suggesting driver in crash may be foreigner, eligible for deportation

A Manitoba MLA is expressing regret after drawing parallels between the 25-year-old driver in a fatal highway crash and"cheap foreign" labour in the trucking industry, who he saidin this instanceshould be deported if not a Canadian citizen.

In a Facebook post Saturday, Josh Guenter, the Progressive Conservative member representing Borderland, appeared to make assumptions about theethnicity, citizenship and work experience of the semi-trailer driver in a crash west of Altona the night before.

RCMPhave only publicly revealed the driver is a 25-year-old, residing in Brampton, Ont.

It isn't known if Guenter was privy to additional information about the driver, who police have yet to charge. Guenter declined an interview request from CBC News and instead referred to his updated Facebook post.

Police say the semidriver was travelling eastbound on Highway 201 when he failed to stop at the intersection with Highway 306, hitting the southbound SUV.

Sara Unger, 35, and her daughter Alexa Unger, 8,were heading home from the grocery store in that SUVlast Friday evening when they were hit. They both died.

RCMP say charges against the driver are "anticipated."

An hour after police reportedthe tragedy last Saturday, Guenteropened his Facebook postby expressingheartbreak for the family.

Guenter then turned his attention to the semi driver, saying he's "outraged" at his "callous disregard for human life." He singled out the man'sresidency by putting "Brampton, Ontario" in quotation marks. The city is a hot spot for trucking companies and one of the most ethnically diverse in the country.

I "hope that he faces the full brunt of the law, and that if he is not a Canadian citizen, that he is deported," Guenter wrote.

"We need a crackdown on cheap foreign labour in the trucking industry, and especially [at] truck driving schools," added Guenter, who was a truck driver before being elected as a MLAin 2019 at the age of 25.

Tyingtragedy to Humboldt crash

Guenter proceeded to callthe tragedy a "repeat" of the deadly Humboldt Broncos bus crash in Saskatchewan, in which the semi driver received an order to be deported.

The MLA also brought up an incident he witnessed last fall when a "foreign truck driver" failed to stop for a school bus.

"Absolutely outrageous," Guenter said of the alleged similarities. "Send them back!"

While some Facebook respondentsexpressed support for Guenter's remarks, with one saying he was "speaking the truth" and another stating he was "expressing what a lot of us are feeling," others accused him of sproutingracismand drumming up "fear and distrust."

Lori Dueck, who lives outside Altona, was one critic.

"My initial reaction was that in the wake of a tragedy, it seemed like his response lacked love and compassion," she said, expressing Guenterhas a responsibility as an elected official to advocate for better safety infrastructure and laws, rather than casting blame.

"The wordsthat just stick with me, which was so disgusting:'send them back,'" she said, referring to the MLA's initial post.

"It seems like his intent was, in fact, to further a racist agenda and surprisingly an anti-immigrant agenda, considering that our constituency is made of so manyimmigrants."

By Monday afternoon, Guenter took to Facebook to say he's heard "thoughtful feedback" and he's reflected on how his post was being received.

"Myintention was never to target individuals, but to focus our attention on the serious issue of road safety in our community and accountability to prevent tragedies like these," he said.

"There is no doubt that we need to address driver training and dangerous behaviour on our roads, but for now, we will keep the family and the driver in our prayers during this difficult time."

He added ourhearts goout to the driver, who will "carry the weight of this devastating incident for the rest of their life."

Dueck said she believes Guenter was intentionally targeting the driver in his initial post, given the MLAsingled out the driver'scityand called for his deportation if he isn'ta Canadian citizen.

Focus on safety instead

Janna Wiebe, a resident of Gretna, Man., who also disapproved ofGuenter'soriginal message, said the MLA's commentaryappeared to comeout of nowhere.

"I just thought it was such an inappropriate and disappointing response to a really tragic accident that happened," Wiebesaid in an interview, before Guenter's follow-up post on Monday.

She said she'd prefer if hefocused on making safety improvements to the intersection. She personally wantstraffic lightsinstalled.

"I call that the'let go and let God' corner becauseI have my heart in my throat every time I drive" either north-south or east-west on that intersection.

"I have seen cars blast through without stopping at the stop sign. I've seen semisblast through without stopping."

Don Wiebe, reeve of the RM of Rhineland, said he anticipates safety improvements will come up at theirnext council meeting on Wednesday.

It's one of the issues community members brought up to him, along with people who were also puzzled by Guenter's initial Facebook post. He said he trusts Guenterhas learned to rephrase his messaging so as not to be seen as targeting immigrants.

Manitoba MLA expresses regret after suggesting driver in fatal crash should be deported

1 day ago

Duration 1:48

Borderland PC MLA Josh Guenter says he never meant to target the driver in a fatal crash near Altona, Man., after drawing parallels between the 25-year-old man and what Guenter had called "cheap foreign labour" in the trucking industry.