Image Credit: CFJC Today / A. Letterio

By Dave Barry / Canadian Press

NDP Leader

Singh calls on the Prime Minister to take real action to heal the wounds of the Kamloops residential school

Jul 29, 2021 | 2:45 PM

KAMLOOPS – For the first time since the discovery of 215 bodies in shallow graves at the Kamloops residential school, the leader of a federal political party has made a visit.

The leader of the Federal NDP, Jagmeet Singh, sat down with with the Chief and council of the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation. “It was a very important, very powerful meeting with Chief and Council today,” said Singh.

Singh struggled to control his emotions as he spoke to media following the meeting. “Standing in front of the residential school, I’m struck by how hard it is to be here, a lot harder that I thought it would be. This is where it happened.”

He told the media he has been inspired by the response of Canadians across the country and called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to take action to heal deep wounds. ” The memorials have shown that people care and people are demanding action,” said Singh. “We have to mourn and need to mourn but it is not good enough to show symbolically that we care. We have to do something to make this right.”

vehicle damage

Over 40 vehicles damaged during late-night Nanaimo vandalism spree

1h ago

rising costs

RDN taxpayers want relief as board grapples with budget

6h ago

new mayor

Spring Mayoral by-election called in Ladysmith

19h ago

In front of the institution’s brick entrance, Singh told reporters the Prime Minister must make good on his six-year-old pledge to fulfil all 94 calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. He is also asking Ottawa to drop its legal battles against a pair of rulings involving First Nations children, and demanding further progress in areas from clean drinking water on reserves to housing and climate action.