Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he is B次元官网网址渁ppalledB次元官网网址� at the B次元官网网址渟hameful policyB次元官网网址� that ripped Indigenous children from their families and placed them in residential schools B次元官网网址� a policy that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission found in 2015 amounted to a B次元官网网址渃ultural genocide.B次元官网网址�
Trudeau offered sombre words today about the remains of 215 children on the grounds of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, calling it B次元官网网址渉eartbreaking news.B次元官网网址�
He says he plans to speak with his three cabinet ministers who oversee Indigenous policy and funding on what steps must be done to support survivors, families and Indigenous Peoples.
Federal New Democrats are calling for an emergency debate in the House of Commons on the grisly discovery in British Columbia.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says the government has not done enough to implement the 94 calls to action in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which spent years studying the government-sponsored, church-run institutions.
A number of the commissionB次元官网网址檚 calls to action focus on the horrors inflicted on children and made recommendations on how governments, justice systems and church officials should try to locate, name and commemorate those who died.
Trudeau signalled he supports SinghB次元官网网址檚 call for an emergency debate.
B次元官网网址淪adly, this is not an exception or an isolated incident. We have to acknowledge the truth: residential schools were a reality, a tragedy that existed here in our country and we have to own up to it,B次元官网网址� Trudeau says.
B次元官网网址淧eople are hurting and we must be there for survivors.B次元官网网址�
Singh says it is not good enough for the Liberal government to offer platitudes and make symbolic gestures, such as lowering flags on Parliament Hill to half-mast.
He wants the government to do more, working in partnership with First Nations communities, to investigate and fully fund identification of other sites where children were buried in unmarked graves.
When asked about his message to families mourning the loss of their children, Singh paused for a long time at his podium, tears in his eyes, replying only that he is sorry and will fight for justice for these families.
B次元官网网址擳eresa Wright, The Canadian Press
