UMVA has learned that a disturbing trend is unfolding in Canada, where some individuals are pushing to criminalize questioning and scrutiny of the residential school narrative, a move that could have far-reaching and chilling implications for free speech.
A Senate committee has voted in favor of an amendment that would make it a criminal offense to engage in what they term "residential school denialism," a concept that has sparked intense debate and concern among those who value critical inquiry and open discussion.
This development follows a private member's bill introduced by New Democrat Leah Gazan, which also aims to criminalize denialism, and has garnered support from several Liberal ministers. The government's Bill C-9, focused on hate crimes, has been amended in the Senate to include this provision, which could lead to up to two years in jail for those found guilty.
The amendment defines the offense as promoting hatred against Indigenous people "by condoning, denying or downplaying the Indian residential school system." However, this raises crucial questions about what exactly constitutes denialism and what the consequences might be for those who dare to challenge the prevailing narrative.
For instance, would denying the claim that 215 children were buried at the Kamloops Indian Residential School in B.C. be considered an offense? This claim, made five years ago, was based on ground-penetrating radar findings, but it has never been proven, and no remains have been exhumed to support it. The lack of concrete evidence has not stopped many from fervently asserting its truth.
It is a fact that children did die while attending residential schools across Canada, including in Kamloops. However, there is no evidence to support the assertion that there are 215 secret burials on the grounds of the Kamloops school or that mass graves exist at other schools, as some have sensationalized.
The push to criminalize denialism appears to have been fueled, at least in part, by the work of journalists like Terry Glavin, who has spent years questioning the narrative surrounding Kamloops and pointing out inconsistencies in the official story. His efforts, and those of others, have been met with calls for legislation to silence such critical voices.
As the one-year anniversary of the Kamloops story approached in 2022, Glavin continued to ask tough questions and highlight the problems with the narrative. His work, and that of others, has sparked a necessary conversation about the importance of truth and reconciliation.
The Globe and Mail recently published an editorial, "There is no reconciliation without truth," which acknowledged the need for a more critical examination of the narrative and called on former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to set the record straight. It is a sentiment that resonates deeply in the context of this debate.
The Senate's consideration of this amendment raises critical questions about the limits of free speech and the importance of open discussion. Will the Senate, often referred to as the chamber of sober second thought, reject this attempt to stifle critical inquiry and protect the rights of all Canadians to engage in open and honest debate?
