NDP motion to recognize Residential Schools as an act of genocide gets all party support

OTTAWA—Today, NDP MP Leah Gazan’s (Winnipeg Centre) motion calling on the government to recognize what happened in Canada's Indian residential schools as genocide passed by unanimous consent in the House of Commons.

“Today I lift up survivors, families, and communities who have sacrificed so much in order for people across Canada to know the truth; that what happened in residential schools was a genocide. I’m grateful to parliamentarians who unanimously passed my motion recognizing the truth of Canada’s history, ” said Gazan. “I look forward to working with the government to ensure the will of Parliament is honoured by formally recognizing residential schools as a genocide. Survivors deserve no less.”

Gazan’s motion reads as follows:

That, in the opinion of the House that the government must recognize what happened in Canada's Indian residential schools as genocide, as acknowledged by Pope Francis and in accordance with article II of the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

“We must honour the experience of residential school survivors, their communities and families.” said Gazan. “We all have a responsibility as elected officials to speak the truth. Only then will we achieve justice and demonstrate that we are truly committed to reconciliation.”

New Democrats continue to stand in solidarity with the First Nations, Métis and Inuit survivors and communities and will continue to work towards advancing justice for survivors, families, and communities impacted by Canada’s Indian Residential Schools.