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Experts say Trudeau’s acknowledgment of Indigenous genocide could have legal impacts

Global News

I remember when Harper did his apology on behalf of Canada for residential schools, it bothered me for a long time. I realized later on it was because it did not acknowledge what happened in the residential schools as criminal. It was a "mistake" rather than anything intentional. In other words, Harper's apology was a non-apology apology: "Sorry you all suffered but Canada was trying to do the right thing."

No, acknowledging it as genocide is the right thing to do.

What would be steps for Canada in showing its sincerity in this acknowledgement?

Reviving the Kelowna Accord? I should think with inflation, what was initially pledged should probably be bumped up to $15 or even $20 billion over a similar time frame. I think originally, it was $10 billion over ten years pledged to on-reserve development.

A criminal investigation committee with prosecutorial, subpoena, and sentencing power is another thing. These were actual crimes of genocide. The broadcasting of justice being pursued would do more for First Nations than anything else.

There's much else but those two are probably the most important programs Canada could start pursuing today.

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