O’Toole opposes efforts aimed at cancelling Canada Day celebrations

Politicians grappling with legacy of residential schools as holiday nears

OTTAWA — Federal politicians are grappling with the country’s legacy of residential schools as July 1 approaches, with the Conservative leader railing against calls to cancel Canada Day while Liberal ministers say it will be a time for reflection.

Tory Leader Erin O’Toole says he’s committed to a renewed nation-to-nation relationship with Indigenous Peoples, but stands firm against so-called activist efforts to “cancel” Canada, particularly on the national holiday.

O’Toole offered his insights on the moment the country finds itself in to members of his caucus and staff gathered in Ottawa before the House of Commons breaks for summer. He called the discovery in British Columbia of what are believed to be the remains of 215 Indigenous children from a former residential school “a necessary awakening for our country.”

O’Toole pledged that a government led by him would be dedicated to a renewed relationship with Indigenous Peoples, as speculation swirls that the minority Parliament may be headed toward an election.

As Canada Day draws near, the reality and impacts of the historical wrongs done to Indigenous Peoples hangs over not only over Parliament Hill, but cities and towns across the country preparing to mark the July 1 holiday.

The celebratory day, filled with fireworks and flapping Canadian flags, has been viewed with increasing apprehension in recent years as more people reckon with Canada’s colonial past and the harm it brought to Indigenous communities.

O’Toole, for his part, spoke out against calls from some to cancel Canada Day celebrations and singled out the actions of activists and those “always seeing the bad and never the good.”