Winnipeg mayor calls on Manitoba premier to apologize for Canadian history comments
Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman wants Premier Brian Pallister to say sorry for comments he made three weeks ago about Canada’s history.
“I think any comments that either deny or attempt to marginalize the purposes or the impact of residential schools it’s just not historically accurate,” said Bowman.
The mayor says in recent meetings with Indigenous leaders, the topic has dominated the conversations and is aggravating efforts at reconciliation.
He believes the premier needs to apologize to move forward.
“I was quite angered by the comments because I along with so many Winnipeggers have put so much effort into building bridges,” said Bowman.
Earlier this month, Pallister announced the two Queen statues toppled during a protest on Canada Day would be rebuilt. The Premier explained our ancestors came here to build and not destroy things, including farms, businesses, and churches.
Indigenous leaders felt the remarks were revisionist and insensitive.
Pallister has stood by his comments saying he was not talking about colonialism and was appealing to all people to work together.
Following the remarks, Indigenous Relations Minister Eileen Clarke resigned and her replacement, Alan Lagimodiere, apologized for controversial statements he made about residential schools minutes after he was sworn in.
There have been small cracks within Pallister's cabinet and the PC caucus with some distancing themselves from all of the remarks.
Families Minister Rochelle Squires has said she is deeply troubled by recent comments and Climate Minister Sarah Guillemard said she can’t support hurtful remarks.
“I’ve been waiting along with a lot of Manitobans for the Premier to apologize,” said Bowman. “If his caucus won’t publicly insist that he apologize, then it falls on community leaders like myself and others.”
Bowman called for the apology on Twitter, less than two hours before a funding announcement with media and all three levels of government represented.
The Pallister Government was asked about the timing and released a statement.
“Premier and cabinet are focused on real reconciliation efforts and advancing equal opportunity for all. Only the mayor can comment on what his personal motivations are for himself,” the statement reads.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada's most wanted fugitive arrested in P.E.I. in connection with Toronto homicide
A suspect in a fatal shooting in Toronto’s east end last summer has been arrested in Charlottetown, just one week after he topped a list of Canada’s most wanted fugitives.
BREAKING Federal employees will be required to spend 3 days a week in the office
Starting in September, public servants in the core public administration will be required to work in the office a minimum of three days a week. The Treasury Board Secretariat says executives will need to be in the office four days per week.
Concerns about plexiglass prompt inspections at some Loblaws locations in Ottawa
Inspections are underway at more than one Loblaws location in Ottawa after complaints were filed about tall plexiglass barriers.
Plane overshoots runway at airport in St. John's, N.L., no injuries reported
Investigators from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada are headed to St. John's, N.L., after a plane overshot a runway at the city's airport this afternoon.
Poilievre unrepentant over calling Trudeau 'wacko' as his MPs say Speaker should resign
An unrepentant Pierre Poilievre returned to the House of Commons on Wednesday to pepper the prime minister about his drug decriminalization policies after being booted the day prior for refusing to take back calling Justin Trudeau 'wacko' over his approach to the issue.
Five human skeletons, missing hands and feet, found outside house of Nazi leader Hermann Göring
Archeologists have unearthed the skeletons of five people, missing their hands and feet, at a former Nazi military base in Poland.
Toddler of Phoenix first responder dies after bounce house goes airborne
A two-year-old child died after a strong gust of wind sent the bounce house he was in airborne and into a neighbouring lot in central Arizona, the Pinal County Sheriff's Office said.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh confirms his party will support the Liberals' federal budget
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says his party will support the federal budget, ending any speculation that the party could pull out of its deal with the minority Liberal government.
Dental care program accepting claims for 1 million seniors
Citizens' Services Minister Terry Beech says 1,200 seniors have already visited a dentist and had their claims processed by the federal government's new dental care plan.