PRIME Minister Mark Carney on Friday issued the following statement commemorating the Komagata Maru incident:

“In 1914, the Komagata Maru steamship anchored in Vancouver’s harbour after a long journey across the Pacific. The 376 people aboard – of Sikh, Muslim, and Hindu faiths – arrived seeking refuge and dignity.

“Canadian authorities however, using exclusionary and discriminatory laws, refused them entry. For two months, passengers were detained on the ship and denied access to food, water, and medical care. When they were forced to return to India, many were imprisoned or killed there.

“The Komagata Maru tragedy is a stark reminder of how, in moments of our history, Canada fell short of the values we hold dear. We cannot rewrite the past, but we must confront it; to act with purpose, to ensure that such injustices are never repeated, and to build a stronger future where inclusion is not a slogan, but a reality – lived, practised, and defended.

“Let this solemn anniversary serve as a call of remembrance and conscience. To honour the past is to learn from it, and to learn from it is to act.”

PREMIER David Eby said: “On May 23, 1914, a chartered steamer named the Komagata Maru arrived in Vancouver harbour after a long transoceanic voyage from Asia. The 376 Sikh, Muslim and Hindu passengers on board came to Canada in search of opportunity and a better life, like so many others. Instead, they were met with rejection and discrimination.

“Only a handful of the passengers on board were allowed to disembark. The remainder were confined to the ship, where they endured harsh and deteriorating conditions. Necessities like food and water were restricted, while legal access and communication with supporters on shore was refused by authorities. After two months, the Komagata Maru was escorted by a warship from Vancouver harbour and forced to return to Asia.

“While the issue has faded from public view, the injustice faced by the passengers and their treatment by Canadian officials remains a dark chapter, especially for South Asian communities in British Columbia.

“In 2008, the Government of B.C. apologized for the treatment of the passengers. Eight years later, the prime minister delivered an apology in the House of Commons. In 2022, the Government of B.C. funded the South Asian Canadian Legacy Project to raise awareness about the many contributions South Asian Canadians have made to our province’s culture, heritage and economy.

“We continue to learn from the mistakes of the past. It is our duty to make sure through education and advocacy that we never repeat them.”

CONSERVATIVE Party Leader Pierre Poilievre said: “Today, Canadians remember the passengers of the SS Komagata Maru, who journeyed to Canada hopeful for a better life, only to be denied entry into Canada by the discriminatory laws of the time.

“The 376 Punjabis who took the dangerous journey to our shores did so because they recognized Canada’s incredible promise of freedom and opportunity. The failure of past governments to live up to this promise represents a dark and shameful chapter in our history and a painful injustice that we must learn from.

“More than a century later, Canada has come a long way since the Komagata Maru tragedy. Today, our country is home to one of the largest Punjabi diaspora communities in the world, made up of multiple generations who have worked, dreamed and prospered in Canada.

“On this anniversary, we are grateful that these incredible Canadians were able to share fully in the Canadian promise. And, in remembering the injustice of the Komagata Maru tragedy, we recommit to defending and preserving this timeless vision of freedom so that future generations can continue to choose Canada and find the same opportunity in the freest country on earth.”