Jagmeet Singh stands out as a sincere leader in debate about “real reconciliation” with Indigenous people

FEDERAL NDP’s Jagmeet Singh is standing out as a leader showing genuine sincerity in the debate about “real conciliation” with Indigenous people following the horrific discovery of the remains of 215 children at the Kamloops Indian Residential School.

On Thursday, Singh presented the NDP Opposition Day Motion, saying: “Survivors, families and nations are demanding concrete action to advance real reconciliation, as opposed to just more words and symbolic gestures.

“While the Liberals have been in power for six years, they have failed to implement the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Furthermore, in less than two weeks, the Liberals are back in court fighting First Nations children, denying them justice, and refusing to comply with Canadian Human Rights Tribunal orders. This must end. No more fighting Indigenous kids in court.”

The NDP Opposition Day motion called on the Liberals to end their legal battle against First Nation children and accept the findings of the Human Rights Tribunal. The NDP is also calling on the Liberals to end their legal battle against St. Anne’s Residential School survivors. While it has been six years since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) issued its 94 calls to action, only a fraction of those have been implemented. The NDP is calling on the Liberal to accelerate the adoption of the TRC calls to action.

The NDP said that to help survivors of Residential Schools, their families and communities, the Liberals must provide appropriate resources to assist with the emotional, physical, spiritual, mental, and cultural trauma. The NDP is also calling on the Liberal government to act with urgency on all Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls report’s Calls to Justice.

“The Liberals cannot claim to honour the spirits of children who died in residential schools when they continue to take Indigenous kids to court,” said NDP Critic for Indigenous Youth, Charlie Angus. “This same government cannot claim to take their role in reconciliation seriously when they force survivors of residential schools to wage legal battles for recognition and compensation. New Democrats will fight for justice and real reconciliation with Indigenous people.”