Trudeau's dismal support of the TRC - we should be embarrassed as Canadians

• Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, issued the following statements after receiving the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission: “Today, on behalf of the Government of Canada, I have the honour of accepting the Commission’s Final Report. It is my deepest hope that this report and its findings will help heal some of the pain caused by the Indian residential school system and begin to restore the trust lost so long ago." - Dec 15, 2015

• "Last year, I committed to a renewed relationship with Indigenous Peoples, one based on the recognition of rights, respect, cooperation and partnership. Today, we take further steps on the journey of reconciliation," Trudeau told reporters in the foyer of the House of Commons." - Dec 15, 2015

• “In partnership with aboriginal communities, provinces, territories, and other important partners, we will completely implement the actions called for by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission,” Trudeau said - Dec 16, 2015

• "Instead of outright recognizing and affirming Indigenous rights, as we promised we would, Indigenous Peoples were forced to prove, time and time again, through costly and drawn-out court challenges, that their rights existed, must be recognized and implemented," Trudeau said and "We need to get to a place where Indigenous peoples are in control of their own destiny." - Feb 14, 2018

• “This was an incredibly harmful government policy that was Canada’s reality for many, many decades and Canadians today are horrified and ashamed of how our country behaved,” Trudeau said. “It was a policy that ripped kids from their homes, from their communities, from their culture and their language and forced assimilation upon them.” and “Canadians across the country are waking up to something that quite frankly that Indigenous communities have long known,” Trudeau said and “The trauma of the past echoes very much today.” - Jun 25, 2021

• “On behalf of the Government of Canada, I encourage all Canadians to take this opportunity to learn more about the history of residential schools in Canada, listen to the stories of survivors and their families, and reflect on how each of us can play a part in the journey of reconciliation." - Sep 30, 2021

• "The Government of Canada will continue to support First Nations, Inuit, and Métis in revitalizing their traditions and languages. “Together with Indigenous Peoples, we continue to envision and work toward a better future" - Jun 21, 2023

• "We must never forget the past and the injustices committed against Indigenous Peoples at residential schools, as well as the intergenerational trauma that remains today," Trudeau said in a statement. "Right now, with denialism sadly on the rise, uncovering the whole truth is more important than ever." - Sept 30, 2023

These are just some of Justin Trudeau's statements about supporting Indigenous peoples in Canada. In 2017 Justin Trudeau said - "No relationship is more important to Canada than the relationship with Indigenous peoples".

We have heard a few things from Indigenous peoples about Justin Trudeau.

• "You're a liar": Indigenous people voice anger at Trudeau ... - Jan 10, 2014
  

• “Clean drinking water, for instance, housing is another one, the high cost of living in the north. There are a lot of issues that still need to be addressed in this country. But at that point, I was so exasperated by watching them say one thing and do another thing. I just said to my team when they told me I had a question that day and I said well I don’t think I’ll ask a question, I’ll just tell him what I think today,” says Saganash. Sagansh noted in Parliament that Trudeau "doesn't give a f**k" about the rights of Indigenous peoples. - Mar 9, 2021

• "This is a government that has said Indigenous people are (the) most important priority for the government, and that action ... does not match the words," Native Women's Association of Canada chief executive Lynne Groulx told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp, on Trudeau, missing first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation - Oct 1, 2021

Trudeau caused outrage in Indigenous communities when he skipped the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation because he was travelling to Tofino with his family on vacation. In addition, he lied about where he was. His official agenda indicated he was in Ottawa making calls to Indigenous peoples. Of course, he was found out and then had to admit and apologize for his behaviour. Like previous ones, his apology was insincere, leaving people frustrated and angry. You would think that if Trudeau truly meant the relationship with Indigenous people was the most important, he could have delayed his vacation for one day. This is just another example of Trudeau's insincerity and hypocrisy.

In 2015 Trudeau promised that all boil water advisories on reserves would be eliminated in 5 years. He knew at the time this was not possible. However, it is another example of statements he has made without any plan to follow through. Sure enough in 2020, there were still 58 (yes 58 a long way from zero) boil water advisories on reserves. This was down from 105 which you could say is progress, but remember, this is 2020 in Canada and 58 communities cannot drink their water!

In March of 2022, I began a social media campaign to highlight the lack of progress made by the Federal government on the 94 Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. I will acknowledge that my efforts in driving the government to action had no impact. Every week on my thirdperiod.ca Facebook and Instagram page I focused on one of the 94 Calls to Action that the Trudeau government had ignored. I tried to explain the Call to Action and why it was important for four weeks. Then I moved on to a different Call to Action. Although I gained several new followers on my social media accounts and new readers of my blog, there was no significant change in government response. I was probably naive in thinking I could have any influence, but I hope people gained awareness about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the lack of government action.

One of the resources I used to understand the progress on the Calls to Action was the Yellowhead Institute - https://yellowheadinstitute.org/. From the Institute's website here is what they are about - Yellowhead Institute generates critical Indigenous policy perspectives. - Yellowhead Institute is an Indigenous-led research and education centre based in the Faculty of Arts at Toronto Metropolitan University. The Institute privileges Indigenous philosophy and amplifies Indigenous voices that provide alternatives to settler colonialism in Canada today. Rooted in community networks, Yellowhead offers critical and accessible resources to support the reclamation of Indigenous land and life.

In December 2019 the Yellowhead Institute began publishing Calls to Action Accountability: A Status Update on Reconciliation. This annual report attempted to measure the Government's progress in implementing the 94 Calls to Action from the TRC Commission report delivered in December 2015. The Institute described their hope this way - "At first, the project invoked hope and determination. If only the Canadian public knew about their government's lack of action, we believed, perhaps things would change," said the annual report from the Yellowhead Institute.

Despite the resources, broad support and respect this think tank has, it also had no impact on influencing the government to take action. In December 2023, its report stated that the government had completed no (as in zero) Calls to Action in the previous year. As a result, the Institute indicated that its December 2023 report would be its last. As they said - "There are limits to how many times you can write a report about how Canada, once again, has failed to make any meaningful progress.". You can read an article on the final report interview here - https://www.nationalobserver.com/2023/12/21/news/yellowhead-institute-report-trc-calls-action

A CBC website Beyond 94 which was established to track progress on the 94 Calls to Action shows that as of April 2024, 13 of the 94 Calls to Action have been achieved (reminder, the Commission's report was issued in December 2015). It is important to note that many of these 13 Calls were largely symbolic. The Yellowhead Institute estimates at this pace it will take until 2081 to implement all the Calls to Action (don't hold your breath - I don't believe we will make that date either). It is clear that the government has avoided tackling the difficult issues that take real work to implement.

I am not going to devote any further energy or rant about the government's inaction. The data is clear - we have not made progress and the government is not serious about making reforms. This is another example of the Trudeau government's inability to mobilize and make meaningful changes in the lives of Indigenous people. This is a problem across a broad set of issues but seems more egregious given Trudeau's comments about supporting Indigenous peoples. As a reminder for those of you who haven't read my previous posts, I want to vote Liberal in federal elections however, until Trudeau and several government leaders leave or lose, I will not be supporting them.

I do however have one question to pose. Is it worse when someone clearly states they have no interest and their behaviour is consistent with that, or when someone insincerely expresses concern and support but doesn't care and does not take meaningful action?

This is the situation with our last two Prime Ministers. No one ever confused Stephen Harper with someone who cared about Indigenous peoples or took action on the Indigenous file. Just as one example he said - "Um it, it isn’t really high on our radar, to be honest ... Our ministers will continue to dialogue with those who are concerned about this." - Prime Minister Stephen Harper on a public inquiry into missing aboriginal women. Most commentators and Indigenous leaders decried Harper's lack of interest in Indigenous issues. It should be noted that Harper stood in the House of Commons in July 2020 to offer an apology to former students of Indian Residential schools. Trudeau with the benefit of hindsight has made many statements that have turned out to be insincere, hypocritical and lacking any form of follow-through.

Although both are despicable, I think Trudeau's behaviour is worse. Starting in 2006 and through two consecutive governments, progress on Indigenous rights and issues has not been made. This is a scar that continues to haunt Canada. The generational harm these issues have caused Indigenous peoples is significant. Reconciliation cannot take place until Canadians, particularly white Canadians take these issues seriously. We don't need Indigenous peoples asking for and driving the change. They have already done this. It is time for non-Indigenous Canadians, ie white Canadians of privilege and power, to speak up and make reconciliation a priority. Only then will the government take serious action.

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