Politics · Canada · 7 hrs ago
Indigenous leaders criticize Kinew’s opposition to criminalizing residential school denialism
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew says residential school denialism should be addressed through education, not made a crime.
He was responding to a bill from federal NDP MP Leah Gazan that would make it illegal to condone, deny, justify or minimize the residential school system in public statements.
The bill would add this offence to a part of Canada’s Criminal Code that already criminalizes Holocaust denial.
Residential schools took Indigenous children from their families and communities for more than 150 years, with the last schools closing in 1997.
An estimated 150,000 children attended, and more than 4,000 deaths have been documented.
Indigenous leaders, including the president of the National Family and Survivors Circle, say Kinew’s position could cause further harm and that education alone is not enough.
Kinew’s office says his comments still stand; the sources do not say what will happen next with Gazan’s bill.
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said residential school denialism should not be criminalized, drawing criticism from Indigenous leaders.
Kinew said denialism should be addressed through education and efforts to combat misinformation.
Leah Gazan, an NDP MP, has introduced a bill to make public statements condoning, denying, justifying or minimizing the residential school system illegal.
Hilda Anderson-Pyrz said Kinew’s position could cause further harm and called for accountability mechanisms.
The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs said it was extremely disappointed with Kinew’s stance.
- Who
- Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew and Indigenous leaders, including Hilda Anderson-Pyrz, are at the centre of the debate. NDP MP Leah Gazan introduced the bill.
- What
- Indigenous leaders criticized Kinew for opposing criminalizing residential school denialism. Gazan’s bill would make certain statements about the residential school system illegal.
- When
- Kinew made his comments on Friday. Indigenous leaders and Gazan responded on Monday.
- Where
- Manitoba and Canada.
- Why
- Kinew said denialism should be countered through education, not criminalization. Critics said education alone is insufficient and denialism causes further harm.
Wab Kinew
Leah Gazan and Indigenous leaders
Approach
Wab Kinew
Kinew said denialism should be addressed through continued education and efforts to combat misinformation, not criminalization.
Leah Gazan and Indigenous leaders
Gazan’s bill would make public statements condoning, denying, justifying or minimizing the residential school system illegal; Anderson-Pyrz said accountability mechanisms are also needed.
Impact
Wab Kinew
Kinew said he does not think denialism should be a crime.
Leah Gazan and Indigenous leaders
Anderson-Pyrz said his statement creates further harm for survivors and others affected by residential schools; Gazan called denialism another form of violence and an attack on dignity, safety and security.
Kinew told CBC Manitoba’s Information Radio that he did not think residential school denialism should be criminalized.
Anderson-Pyrz and Gazan spoke publicly against Kinew’s position, and the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs issued a statement expressing disappointment.
- Proposed bill
- Leah Gazan’s bill would amend the Criminal Code to address public statements condoning, denying, justifying or minimizing the residential school system.
- Kinew’s position
- He said denialism should be met with education, not criminalization.
- Indigenous children
- An estimated 150,000 First Nations, Inuit and Métis children attended residential schools in Canada.
- Deaths documented
- More than 4,000 children who died while attending residential schools have been documented by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.
- School period
- Residential schools operated from the 1830s until 1997.
What people are saying
I have a lot of respect for MP Gazan, but I don't think we can criminalize this
I think we have to just do the continued work of educating people and trying to combat misinformation.
Education is important, but we also need accountability mechanisms to prevent further harm from being caused to Indigenous communities.
Some people don't want to be educated
Sources
Related news
Carney urges Alberta to stay in Canada ahead of October 19 vote
Carney urges Canadian unity ahead of Alberta visit and separation referendum
SIU invokes mandate after man dies in OPP custody in Orillia
Alberta Chief Justice Ritu Khullar dies at 62 after a career helping others
Alberta referendum voting begins as experts question what results will mean
Supreme Court sets sentencing framework for Indigenous intimate partner violence cases
Six provinces and Yukon urge Ottawa to expand mining tax credit
Carney addresses Albertans in Thanksgiving message
Prime minister urges Albertans to choose prosperity
Spruce Grove sees final push for Alberta separation before referendum
Alberta referendum campaigns step up efforts before Oct. 19 vote
