‘Never in a million years’: Sarnia Coun. Dennis refuses to apologize for comments deemed offensive to Indigenous community

CTV’s Bryan Bicknell with a special Sarnia council meeting to deal with comments Coun. Bill Dennis made about a new Indigenous mural at city hall.

“Never in a million years. Never in a million years. The Leafs have a better chance of winning the Stanley Cup this year than me apologizing.”

That’s what Sarnia Coun. Bill Dennis had to say Tuesday just moments after a special Sarnia council meeting adjourned, which was held to address online comments he made that some found offensive.

Dennis chose not to attend the meeting but watched online while on vacation in Florida.

A motion from Coun. Adam Kilner called on Dennis to apologize to Indigenous artist Kennady Osborne, who painted a welcome mural at Sarnia City Hall. It also asked him to apologize to the chiefs of Aamjiwnaang and Kettle and Stoney Point First Nations and their respective communities.

“And to make those letters available for public viewing,” Kilner said.

While the motion was unanimously endorsed, Coun. Chrissy McRoberts expressed doubts, saying it would be “futile.”

“I don’t believe that councillor

Dennis believes he’s done anything wrong, so an apology from himself isn’t going to actually be real,” she conceded.

The ordeal began last week when Dennis lashed out on Facebook about taxpayer money spent on the mural, which cost $12,500, including the commission itself and the installation.

Dennis’s post reads, “This in my opinion is virtue signalling by woke politicians who are out of touch with the vast majority of Sarnians.”

The post and following comments by Dennis prompted a response from Coun. Brian White at Tuesday’s meeting saying, “that quite frankly is insulting and ignorant to art in general.”

The original post set off a series of exchanges, with Dennis being accused of vulgar and racist commentary, and Indigenous leaders calling on city council to deal with Dennis under council’s Code of Conduct.

“And when we make comments, or put in print, ‘put that in your pipe and smoke it,’ you cannot deny that that was an attack or a slur on our neighbours. And I’m ashamed that we are broadcasting out to the world that Sarnia is a racist city,” said McRoberts.

Dennis retorted, “Chrissy McRoberts is in a little, a lot of trouble for the things that she said. ‘Putting that in your pipe and smoking it’ is not a racial slur. It’s a common phrase. All you have to do is Google it and find out what it means. As a matter of fact, I got that from watching The Simpsons.”

Council is also seeking advice on potential human rights liabilities.

It wants regular updates from UNDRIP (The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Working Group) – a council committee whose goal is to foster relations with First Nations.

And further, council will issue a formal thank you to Indigenous artist Kennady Osborne for the city hall welcome mural.