No commitment on inquiry
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took questions from reporters Wednesday as his cabinet wrapped up their retreat in St. John’s, while federal government employees protested outside.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was generally supportive but noncommittal when it comes to his government’s participation in an upcoming inquiry into Innu children in provincial government custody.
Trudeau took questions from reporters Wednesday as his cabinet wrapped up their retreat in St. John’s, and the prime minister was asked about a formal joint request from Premier Dwight Ball and leaders of the Innu Nation for participation in the inquiry.
“As we’ve said many times, we have an approach around federalism that is based on partnership, on collaboration, and we will take seriously and examine any request that any provincial government makes, including this one,” Trudeau said.
More generally, he had encouraging words about Indigenous reconciliation.
“We take very seriously the question of reconciliation and understand the relationships around reconciliation and true partnership require more than just action by any single government and Indigenous communities,” he said. “Multiple levels of government and especially non-indigenous Canadians have significant roles to play in the path forward as we go.”
The Innu inquiry will deal with the disproportionate number of Indigenous children in the province who are in the custody of social services.
Many of those children are removed from their Innu communities when they are taken into custody. Innu leaders say the system removes children from their family, culture, language and community.
Ball raised the inquiry issue on Tuesday when he addressed the federal cabinet. Originally, the inquiry was supposed to start by the end of September, but on Tuesday Ball said the government doesn’t want to rush things, and they’re willing to wait a little while for an answer from Ottawa.
Trudeau recommitted to offering a formal apology to the Indigenous people of the province who are survivors of the residential schools system. Indigenous people of this province were left out of the original apology and settlement offered in 2008 by then-prime minister Stephen Harper.
“(An apology) is something we are absolutely going to do in Newfoundland and Labrador,” Trudeau said. “And we will make the appropriate announcement at the right time with the right people in the right place.”
Trudeau also fielded questions from the national media on everything from overseas peacekeeping and his vacation plans to the ongoing effort to legalize marijuana.
“We know that as it stands right now, underage Canadians have easier access to marijuana than in just about any other country in the world, and it’s easier for a young person to buy a joint than it is for them to buy a bottle of beer. That’s not right,” Trudeau said, holding firm on the government’s plan to legalize the drug in the summer of 2018.
Trudeau also used the media event to make special mention of Judy Foote, who retired from politics last month. Foote was a senior member of the Liberal government until she retired from politics in August.
Trudeau thanked her for her hard work as a Liberal MP and member of cabinet.