The prime minister begins his mandate with another controversy as his website says he was in Ottawa for “private meetings,” though he was later spotted in Tofino, BC, spending a few days with his family.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau began his mandate with another controversy as his website said he was in Ottawa Thursday for "private meetings." However, he was later spotted in Tofino, BC, spending a few days with his family.
Globe and Mail political reporter Marieke Walsh tweeted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau flew to Tofino for a break, as Canada marked the first-ever National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc, where residents found 215 bodies in unmarked graves, had invited Trudeau to their event. But the prime minister didn't explain why he couldn't go.
The CBC claimed in a since-deleted tweet that Trudeau travelled to BC to speak with Residential School survivors from across the country on the first-ever National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.
But Trudeau confirmed he spent some time on the phone Thursday with residential school survivors from across the country, "hearing their stories and getting their advice on the path forward."
He tweeted: "By listening and learning, we can walk down that path - and advance meaningful reconciliation - together."
"Not only is this a masterclass of blatantly partisan journalism, but it also isn't true," tweeted Toronto Sun journalist Bryan Passifiume, who initially broke the Trudeau Tofino story.
Global News tried to get a comment from the prime minister on the beach in Tofino, where he was filmed walking with his wife, Sophie Trudeau.
Global News reporter Jordan Armstrong briefly asked Trudeau why he did not meet with Indigenous Canadians in person.
He didn't respond.
Armstrong followed up, "they invited you."
The prime minister continued to walk away along the beach, ignoring the journalist's inquiry.
Global News Ottawa Bureau Chief Mercedes Stephenson said the outlet noticed Trudeau's plane landed near Tofino, where he said he spent "time with family and speaking with survivors of residential schools from across the country."
Charlie Angus, the former NDP critic for Indigenous and Northern Affairs, also chimed in on Trudeau not affording time to meet with Indigenous peoples in person.
"No public official goes skiing on November 11 because we show respect to the veterans," he tweeted.
"On this day of reconciliation, you don't skip town and go to the beach because it's about showing respect to survivors. This is not a holiday, and it's a day of atonement."
Native Women's Association of Canada CEO Lynne Groulx said she's disappointed Trudeau flew to Tofino to spend time with family.
"He should be the one who is leading this reconciliation process," she said on Power and Politics. "So that's unfortunate and very disappointing."
Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc Chief Rosanne Casimir sent two written invitations to Trudeau inviting him to a ceremonial event Thursday near the former Kamloops Indian Residential School.
The discovery of 215 unmarked graves at the site in May sparked an outcry from Canadians, who demanded calls to action to address the injustices committed by the Residential School system.
"I did hold out hope that he would be here today," said Casimir, "but I do know moving forward that it's really important he truly uphold the ten guiding principles of working with us as First Nations."
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