Indigenous leaders have expressed their disapproval of Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew’s recent statements suggesting that denying residential schools should not be penalized.
Kinew’s remarks were made during an interview with Marcy Markusa on CBC Manitoba’s Information Radio following federal NDP MP Leah Gazan’s proposal to amend the Criminal Code to address the promotion of hatred against Indigenous communities.
Gazan’s bill aims to criminalize any actions condoning, denying, justifying, or downplaying the impact of the residential school system in Canada beyond private conversations.
Kinew, respecting Gazan but disagreeing, stated, “I don’t believe we should make this a criminal offense. Education and dispelling misinformation should be our focus.”
Hilda Anderson-Pyrz, president of the National Family and Survivors Circle, criticized Kinew’s stance, stating that it could further harm survivors and those affected by the ongoing denial of the schools’ atrocities.
Anderson-Pyrz emphasized the need for accountability measures by political leaders to prevent continued harm to Indigenous communities, stressing that education alone is insufficient.
The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs also expressed disappointment in Kinew’s position through a statement on social media.
Kinew’s office confirmed that his stance remains unchanged when asked for a response on Monday.
From the 1830s to 1997, Indigenous children were forcibly taken to residential schools, aimed at assimilating them into Euro-Canadian culture, with over 150,000 children attending and more than 4,000 documented deaths.
Leah Gazan, the NDP MP, emphasized the necessity of addressing residential school denialism similarly to the Criminal Code’s prohibition of Holocaust denialism.
Gazan highlighted the need for legal consequences in extreme cases where disinformation is spread by influential individuals, stating that education alone has not been effective in combating denialism.
Despite her recent request for a parliamentary debate being rejected, Gazan remains committed to pursuing legislative changes to fulfill her promise to survivors.
Gazan reintroduced Bill C-254 in October 2025 after it lapsed due to a previous election, with the bill yet to undergo further readings and debates before potential enactment.
