Question Period Note: Remains found at BC Residential School

• All Canadians were heartbroken when we learned of the remains of children at the former Kamloops Residential School.

• We are working with the community and our partners, such as the BC First Nations Health Authority, to provide resources and the supports needed, as determined by the community.

• We are also reaching out to Indigenous communities across Canada on how best to support them in finding their lost children, including how they can access $27 million of funding being made available on an urgent basis.

N/A

If Pressed CTAs 72-76 (94 words)

• In memory of all the children who went missing, and in support of their grieving families and communities, we have provided $33.8 million to Implement TRC Calls to Action 72-76.

• Implementing Calls 72 and 73, we have funded the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation to develop and maintain the National Residential School Student Death Register and establish an online registry of residential school cemeteries.

• Implementing Calls 74-75, we are engaging with Indigenous communities on how best to support them in finding their lost children, including how they can access $27 million of funding.

If pressed on Genocide (90 words)
• Residential Schools were part of a shameful and racist colonial policy that removed Indigenous children from their communities and denied them their families, language and culture.

• Thousands of children were sent to these schools and never returned home.

• After six years of hearing from survivors and experts, the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions issued findings on this issue our Government has accepted their conclusion.

• The loss of children who attended residential schools is unthinkable and we must ensure that Canadians know and understand what happened so it can never happen again.