Renew relationship with Indigenous Peoples without cancelling Canada: O’Toole

Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole says he’s committed to a renewed relationship with Indigenous People, while speaking out against calls to cancel Canada Day celebrations.

The Conservative caucus met Wednesday morning in advance of the House of Commons rising for its summer break.

O’Toole called the discovery of the remains of 215 Indigenous children at a former B.C. residential school a “necessary awakening for our country.”

READ MORE: Nationwide shock after remains of 215 children discovered at former residential school

But added that the road to repairing that relationship doesn’t involve attempts to destroy Canada and spoke out against calls from some to cancel Canada Day celebrations.

“I’m concerned that injustices in our past, or in our present, are too often seized upon by a small group of activist voices who use it to attack the very idea of Canada itself,” he said.

Like other federal party leaders, O’Toole has had to respond to the discovery of the remains and demands for the government to make better progress on calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

RELATED STORY: Walk of Solidarity