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