Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said it has been a difficult year for many since unmarked graves were opened in residential schools, and those expressing anger are justified in doing so.
Trudeau told reporters in Vancouver that Canada was responsible for the “horrific things” that were happening to the indigenous people and that injustice had not been isolated in the past.
He said they continue today with socio-economic inequalities, mental health challenges and other legacies from residential schools that require continuous action.
Trudeau made the remarks after his tense appearance Monday at a memorial service at the former housing school in Kamloops, where he was met with angry chants from some. The prime minister was in Vancouver on Tuesday for a series of announcements, including a welcome to the Invictus Games in Canada in 2025, which will include winter sports.
WATCH Trudeau says the federal government will be a long-term partner for indigenous reconciliation
Trudeau says the federal government will be a long-term partner for indigenous reconciliation
Justin Trudeau reacted to the scandal he received at the Kamloops Memorial.
Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation announced last May that penetrating radar had identified up to 215 suspected graves in an apple orchard next to the residential school. Trudeau said Canada is still struggling with the discovery.
“There were a number of people who are still very, very hurt by this and who are angry and, frankly, have a right to be angry,” he said.
Invictus Games 2025
The federal and provincial governments are allocating $ 15 million each to support the 2025 Invictus Games in Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia
As the first Invictus Games to feature adaptive winter sports, Trudeau said the event would be “uniquely Canadian.” He also said an additional $ 1 million in federal funds would be provided to the Soldier On program to support the participation of Canadian veterans in the games.
The games will include alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, skeleton and wheelchair curling, as well as swimming, indoor rowing, sitting volleyball, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair basketball.
Long passport queues
Trudeau also answered questions Tuesday about the long lineups in the passport services and Canada’s plans for Football to host the men’s friendly against Iran in Vancouver next month.
People across the country have expressed disappointment with long queues as they try to obtain or renew passports before traveling internationally.
People wait outside in line in front of the Services Canada passport office in Surrey, British Columbia on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 (Ben Nelms / CBC)
The prime minister said the federal government expected the surge in December as travel restrictions were lifted and work was under way to hire 500 new passport officers to manage the influx.
“We deliver about 43,000 new passports a week,” he said. “It’s a cold comfort for people who are still struggling, but it would be even worse if we didn’t start the hiring process earlier this year.”
He also said the formations have a silver line, as it shows a reopening of the economy and international borders after two years of restrictions.
Canada-Iran football match is a “bad idea”
The families of the victims of flight PS752, outraged by the football match between Canada and Iran
The families of the victims of the downing of flight PS752 are urging Canada Soccer to cancel a planned match with the Iranian football team, saying they feel betrayed by the move.
Asked about the upcoming football match between the men’s teams of Canada and Iran, Trudeau reiterated his belief that it was a “bad idea” to host the match in Vancouver, but said that in the end it was not his decision whether to be allowed to continue.
Families who lost loved ones in the destruction of PS752 are urging Canada Soccer to abandon its plan for the game, saying they feel “betrayed” by the decision to have an Iranian team in British Columbia, an opinion the prime minister said he shared.
“I expressed my concern that I thought this game was a bad idea,” he said, adding that no funding had been used from Sport Canada to host it.
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