Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly apologized on Wednesday for travelling to Tofino on Sept. 30, the country含羞草研究社檚 first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Trudeau addressed the issue while speaking at a press conference in Ottawa to
含羞草研究社淭ravelling on September 30 was a mistake and I regret it,含羞草研究社� the prime minister said. 含羞草研究社淭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.含羞草研究社�
He said he had called Tk含羞草研究社檈ml煤ps te Secw茅pemc K煤kpi7 (Chief) Rosanne Casimir on Saturday and 含羞草研究社渁pologized for not being there with her and her community for this important day.含羞草研究社�
含羞草研究社淚t was a mistake to travel on that day,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淭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.含羞草研究社�
Trudeau was asked what led to the decision to travel and whether anyone had advised him not to.
含羞草研究社淚 think how it happened is far less important than that it happened, which I regret,含羞草研究社� he responded. 含羞草研究社淲e will continue to do even more on the path of reconciliation, whether it含羞草研究社檚 continuing to eliminate long-term boil water advisories, whether it含羞草研究社檚 making sure that there含羞草研究社檚 better investments in housing and support for kids going to new and better schools across the country in indigenous communities, there含羞草研究社檚 much work to do and I am committed to doing it.含羞草研究社�
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
含羞草研究社淔or me and for so many people across Canada, it含羞草研究社檚 our job to keep our prime minister in check and always try to make sure that they含羞草研究社檙e addressing their mistakes when they make them,含羞草研究社� Masso told the Westerly News following the prime minister含羞草研究社檚 statements on Wednesday.
含羞草研究社淚t is a little bit reassuring to know that he含羞草研究社檚 stepping up and owning that mistake含羞草研究社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 I含羞草研究社檓 glad that he addressed that publicly.含羞草研究社�
He added though that the prime minister含羞草研究社檚 apology must be followed up by action.
含羞草研究社淚 think that is truly the first step, but there are so many steps to regaining respect and, for me, I含羞草研究社檓 still disappointed in him. One thing that we called for was to address that publicly, but there含羞草研究社檚 a lot of steps to regain that respect and on that path to reconciliation you have to work together,含羞草研究社� he said.
含羞草研究社淔or me personally, and this is kind of a sad thing though, I含羞草研究社檝e lost a lot of respect for our prime minister through various actions that he含羞草研究社檚 done含羞草研究社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, there含羞草研究社檚 so many things that he has to do. He has to own up to previous mistakes that he含羞草研究社檚 done and try to move forward with everyone, not just have it as lip service of 含羞草研究社業含羞草研究社檓 sorry and I含羞草研究社檓 going to be different now.含羞草研究社� I含羞草研究社檝e seen so many politicians say that and then go on and repeat the actions they含羞草研究社檝e done in the past.含羞草研究社�
andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca
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