Ottawa, ON — The Hon. Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and the Official Opposition, released the following statement on the Anniversary of the Apology to Former Students of Residential Schools: 

“Fifteen years ago today, thousands of Canadians gathered on Parliament Hill and in homes across the country as the apology to residential school survivors was made in the House of Commons.  

“In 2008, following decades of harmful policies that enabled the horrific treatment of Indigenous children in residential schools, the Canadian government under Stephen Harper offered an apology in order to acknowledge the government’s wrongdoing and begin to make amends for this terrible injustice. This historic apology acknowledged the profound wrongs of the past and sought to open the door to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.  

“The legacy of residential schools remains an ugly and horrific blight in the history of our country. The unimaginable trauma experienced by children who were torn from their homes and their culture has been felt throughout generations, devastating entire families and communities.  

“On the anniversary of this apology, Canadians come together to recall the painful history of residential schools in Canada, listen to the survivors, and remember the children who never made it home. Today, as we walk the path of healing and reconciliation with Indigenous communities, Conservatives renew our commitment to putting an end to the government-knows-best attitude that led to the harmful policies of the past. Instead, we lock arms with Indigenous people as we work to empower them with the freedom to bring home a better future.”