Ottawa, ON – The Hon. Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and the Official Opposition, released the following statement on the anniversary of the apology to former students of Indian Residential Schools:
“For decades, the government used forced re-education as a weapon against Indigenous children to eradicate Indigenous cultures, languages and traditions. Indigenous children were forcibly removed from the love and care of their families, only to be neglected and abused. Tragically, too many young children never made it home.
“In 2008, the Canadian government under former Prime Minister Stephen Harper delivered an apology finally acknowledging the horrors of the Residential School system. It marked the first step towards healing and making amends with Indigenous Peoples.
“The residential school system is a dark chapter of our nation’s history. Two primary objectives of this system were to remove and isolate children from the influence of their homes, families, traditions, and cultures and to assimilate them into the dominant culture. These objectives were based on the false assumption that Indigenous cultures and spiritual beliefs were inferior and unequal. Today, we reaffirm that this policy of assimilation was wrong, has caused great harm, and has no place in our country.
“Today, we remember the harm caused by residential schools and the resilience of the survivors who worked tirelessly to have the government finally acknowledge the abuse they suffered.
“This apology was not the end of the journey towards reconciliation, but the beginning. Common Sense Conservatives will continue to work to end the paternalistic “Ottawa-knows-best” approach that led to these destructive policies in the first place. We are committed to supporting and empowering Indigenous people to take back control of their lives.
“By walking the path of true reconciliation, we remain close to a brighter future, where Indigenous communities can reclaim prosperity for their land and their people. Together, we can build a Canada that honours and supports the contributions and autonomy of Indigenous peoples.”
