Trudeau criticized for taking family Tofino trip on first Truth and Reconciliation Day

TOFINO (NEWS 1130) — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is facing some harsh criticism after he was found to be spending time with family in Tofino rather than marking the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Kamloops.

Despite his schedule saying he’s in private meetings, NEWS 1130 has confirmed through the Prime Minister’s Office he will be on Vancouver Island for a few days.

Trudeau had received invitations from the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc to mark the day with residential school survivors and their families in Kamloops, where the remains of 215 children were discovered earlier this year.

Related video: Returning back to Kamloops months following the discovery of residential school children remains

However, despite outcry over Trudeau’s whereabouts, his office says his west coast trip came “following his participation in [Wednesday] night’s ceremony.”

A number of Twitter users posted about their frustration and anger.

One person wrote, “Honestly, what are you thinking JustinTrudeau (sic)? I have proudly voted Liberal in every election, this is so disappointing.”

Others said the trip was hypocritical while another user simply said, “Un. Believable.”

Iv’e never been more angry with Trudeau.

— Ramsey Todd (@bloodclotshot) September 30, 2021

‘A colossal failure of leadership’

The Tk’emlups te Secwépemc says members had invited the prime minister twice to join them for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Kamloops.

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, president of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, did not mince words following the revelation Trudeau was vacationing in Tofino, calling the prime minister “arrogant” and “conceited.”

“This would have been a prime opportunity for him to demonstrate his commitment to truth and reconciliation and the 94 calls to action by attending and honouring the invitation … but he chose to arrogantly dismiss the invitation,” Phillip said, adding, “It’s a complete slap in the face” to see Trudeau in Tofino.

“@JustinTrudeau’s arrogant dismissal of @Tkemlups invitatation represents a 'slap in the face' to all IRS Survivors. Especially grieving families of the children that never came home. If this event was before the election; Trudeau would be there on both knees!” -GCSP

— UBCIC (@UBCIC) October 1, 2021

Phillip wishes Trudeau attended the Tk’emlups te Secwépemc reconciliation day commemorative events. However, he says instead, Trudeau “in a very arrogant fashion, he demonstrated his characteristic hypocrisy, whereby he says one thing and does something completely opposite. And he never honoured the invitation.”

“So in our view, it was a colossal failure of leadership on the part of the Prime Minister. It was hypocritical in regard to his many public statements about supporting the truth and reconciliation process, particularly during the last federal election. And we take issue with it.”

The PMO says it has updated Trudeau’s schedule to reflect where he was Thursday.

Related Articles: 

• Canada marks first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

• ‘We have to acknowledge the truth’: Trudeau horrified by mass grave in Kamloops, promises action

• 6 years and a national holiday later, Indigenous elder wants more from Ottawa on 94 calls to action

Residential school survivors told their stories at a ceremony Wednesday night on Parliament Hill. Trudeau said at the somber event he applauds the courage of survivors and that it cannot be easy for them to speak out.

The prime minister added that reconciliation simply doesn’t mean looking back and understanding the mistakes made in the past but realizing that they are shaping the country even today.

He said while Canada is seen as a peace-loving place that respects the rights of people, it is also a country that has made huge and terrible mistakes.

The prime minister added the challenges facing First Nations, such as injustice, inequality, discrimination, and racism, can be traced back to the decisions made decades ago.

Trudeau stressed it behooves everyone to listen to the experiences of residential school survivors and know that they are every Canadian’s story.

The discovery of remains in Kamloops was an awakening in the rest of the country to the horrors of Canada’s residential school system, in which more than 150,000 children were taken from their homes and families.

Ground searches across Canada continue to find the remains of more Indigenous people who never made it home and who were not given proper burials.

Emotional support or assistance for those who are affected by the residential school system can be found at Indian Residential School Survivors Society toll-free 1 (800) 721-0066 or 24-hr Crisis Line 1 (866) 925-4419.