June 24, 2021
Ottawa, ON – The Hon. Erin O’Toole, Leader of Canada’s Conservatives and the Official Opposition, issued a statement following the heartbreaking discovery of 751 unmarked graves at the site of the former Marieval Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan:
“Today, the Cowessess First Nation confirmed the heartbreaking news of the discovery of 751 unmarked graves at the site of the former Marieval Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan.
“Canada’s Conservatives acknowledge the deep sorrow and mourning that all Indigenous people and survivors of Residential Schools are experiencing at this time, and our hearts grieve for the Cowessess First Nation and the surrounding Indigenous communities who are sharing in this trauma.
“This discovery is a somber reminder that so much more work needs to be done to address the devastating and harmful effects that residential schools had, and still have, on many survivors today.
“Conservatives have called for a swift timeline and funding to deliver on the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action 71 to 76 involving missing children and providing healing for families. We pledge our support for this effort and again ask for Prime Minister Trudeau to take action ahead of Canada Day to support the Indigenous communities, and our country, in mourning.”
