Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly apologized on Wednesday for travelling to Tofino on Sept. 30, the countryB次元官网网址檚 first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Trudeau addressed the issue while speaking at a press conference in Ottawa to
B次元官网网址淭ravelling on September 30 was a mistake and I regret it,B次元官网网址� the prime minister said. B次元官网网址淭he first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation was a time for Indigenous people and non-Indigenous people alike to reflect and connect, think about the past but also focus on the future.B次元官网网址�
He said he had called TkB次元官网网址檈ml煤ps te Secw茅pemc K煤kpi7 (Chief) Rosanne Casimir on Saturday and B次元官网网址渁pologized for not being there with her and her community for this important day.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚t was a mistake to travel on that day,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭his is an important moment for Canada and for Canadians to reflect not just on the past but on the present. I was in error to choose to travel on that day and I apologized directly to Chief Casimir for not having attended the event that she invited me to, which is why I am looking forward to going to the community and sitting down with them in the coming weeks.B次元官网网址�
Trudeau was asked what led to the decision to travel and whether anyone had advised him not to.
B次元官网网址淚 think how it happened is far less important than that it happened, which I regret,B次元官网网址� he responded. B次元官网网址淲e will continue to do even more on the path of reconciliation, whether itB次元官网网址檚 continuing to eliminate long-term boil water advisories, whether itB次元官网网址檚 making sure that thereB次元官网网址檚 better investments in housing and support for kids going to new and better schools across the country in indigenous communities, thereB次元官网网址檚 much work to do and I am committed to doing it.B次元官网网址�
Tofino is in the traditional territory of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation and TFN members Timmy Masso and Hjalmer Wenstob led a gathering outside the beachfront property Trudeau was staying at on Chesterman Beach on Saturday evening
B次元官网网址淔or me and for so many people across Canada, itB次元官网网址檚 our job to keep our prime minister in check and always try to make sure that theyB次元官网网址檙e addressing their mistakes when they make them,B次元官网网址� Masso told the Westerly B次元官网网址 following the prime ministerB次元官网网址檚 statements on Wednesday.
B次元官网网址淚t is a little bit reassuring to know that heB次元官网网址檚 stepping up and owning that mistakeB次元官网网址n Nuu-chah-nulth culture, when you make a mistake, you make sure you address that publicly and make sure you have everyone to acknowledge that you made that mistake so you can go forward, so IB次元官网网址檓 glad that he addressed that publicly.B次元官网网址�
He added though that the prime ministerB次元官网网址檚 apology must be followed up by action.
B次元官网网址淚 think that is truly the first step, but there are so many steps to regaining respect and, for me, IB次元官网网址檓 still disappointed in him. One thing that we called for was to address that publicly, but thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of steps to regain that respect and on that path to reconciliation you have to work together,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淔or me personally, and this is kind of a sad thing though, IB次元官网网址檝e lost a lot of respect for our prime minister through various actions that heB次元官网网址檚 doneB次元官网网址nd then to finally drive that peg into the wall you see him going on a vacation on this first Day for Truth and Reconciliation. For me, when it comes to regaining respect, thereB次元官网网址檚 so many things that he has to do. He has to own up to previous mistakes that heB次元官网网址檚 done and try to move forward with everyone, not just have it as lip service of B次元官网网址業B次元官网网址檓 sorry and IB次元官网网址檓 going to be different now.B次元官网网址� IB次元官网网址檝e seen so many politicians say that and then go on and repeat the actions theyB次元官网网址檝e done in the past.B次元官网网址�
andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca
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