Minister won’t commit to criminalizing residential school denialism

“Yet we also know the strength, resilience and courage of our survivors, families, and community members. We have endured fear, and we will not be intimidated. We stand together, day after day and generation after generation, to ensure that this history is never repeated.”

In May 2021, the First Nation announced ground-penetrating radar had uncovered what were believed to be 215 unmarked graves at the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. That news made international headlines and led to the community being attacked online.

Some outside individuals brought shovels to the community to dig for the remains of children, and the First Nation was forced to increase security around the site of the former school.

More than 150,000 Indigenous children were forced to attend residential schools, the last of which closed in 1996. Thousands of children died in the institutions.

NDP MP Leah Gazan has a private member’s bill currently before the House of Commons which would criminalize as hate speech condoning, denying, downplaying or justifying residential schools. That is the language used to criminalize Holocaust denialism in the Criminal Code.

In a media statement issued Monday, Gazan said survivors deserve more than just words of condemnation for what happened in Kamloops on Sunday.

Chiefs at the Assembly of First Nations have called on the government to enact Gazan’s legislation on multiple occasions and passed a resolution to that effect in July, not long after the Liberals passed a new hate crime law.

Some senators tried and failed to amend that law to cover residential school denialism.

Some First Nations chiefs have asked the Liberal government to introduce a similar bill, which would be more likely to pass. Gull-Masty would not commit to that on Monday.

“While I acknowledge that the opposition is taking a position and trying to move something forward, that comes from them,” Gull-Masty said at an unrelated news conference in Ottawa.

“We have to be led by community to ensure that the decisions we make is truly reflective of what they want to receive in terms of support.”

Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree was not made available for an interview. His office told The Canadian Press it has “nothing further to add at this time” and pointed to an online statement from Prime Minister Mark Carney.

In that statement, Carney called the demonstration “cowardly” and said it has no place in this country.

In a social media post, the Assembly of First Nations said it strongly condemns the display of racism and hate in B.C.

“We call for a full investigation and for governments and Canadians to join us in pushing back against racism,” the statement said.

“There is no place for this in today’s society. We must stand together against ignorance, racism and lies, and stand up for First Nations rights, for truth and for reconciliation.”

B.C. NDP Leader David Eby and B.C. Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson both condemned the banner drop, calling the actions of the demonstrators appalling.

Conservative MP Frank Caputo, whose riding includes Kamloops, on Sunday said the demonstrators engaged in “disgusting behaviour.” On Monday, he said in a post on X he had become even angrier in the hours since.

“Screw off. Go home. Never come back. Reflect on your poor decisions,” Caputo wrote. “These cowards refuse to show their faces. Not surprising given their odious message.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 28, 2026.

Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

Minister won’t commit to criminalizing residential school denialism

What's Trending