Latest news with #SirJohnAMacdonald
Globe and Mail
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Globe and Mail
Sir John-in-the-box, no more
Drew Hayden Taylor is an Anishnawbe playwright and humorist. It's been said old soldiers and politicians never die, they just fade away. In some rare cases, they roar back into our lives and make a fundamental fuss over how we should view them. Sir John A. Macdonald, the first prime minister of Canada, died in 1891 and is once again in the news. A statue of the man standing in Toronto's Queen's Park was boxed up five years ago after vandals defaced him amidst protests about his revered place in Canadian history. It seems the politicians thought pink paint was not his colour. A recent decision was made by Ontario's Legislature to unbox the man and let him once again stand proud and unfettered, proudly extolling the virtues of colonization. He came, he legislated, he conquered. Sir JAM will be cleaned and mounted this summer … if you'll pardon the expression. Yes, the man did cobble together a country, amidst a sea of champagne at that notorious gathering of elite white politicians in PEI. I'll drink to that. Coincidentally, he also kept the Americans at bay. For that, some might decry, Where is he today? He was the poster boy for functioning alcoholics. There's also the creation of the Canadian national railroad and a few other things that make the man memorable, through rose-tinted glasses. However, those kinds of actions seldom spark such vandalism or controversy. What does, Indigenous critics argue, was the fact that Macdonald was an architect of the country's disgraceful residential school system. With the help of Egerton Ryerson, the state took Indigenous children from their families in an effort to assimilate them. There was also Macdonald's development of a plot to starve out the Indigenous people of the Prairies so that Europeans could flood the area, putting up such culturally important landmarks as the world's largest badminton racket (St. Albert, Alta.), the world's largest curling rock (Arborg, Man.), the world's second-largest fire hydrant (Elm Creek, Man.), and the world's largest golf tee (Trochu, Alta.). The man knew what was important. What's that old joke? At least Hitler made the trains run on time? Some say the past, warts and all, shouldn't be hidden away. It should be up front, in your face. As many have said of George Orwell's 1984, it was meant to be a warning, not a guidebook. Thus, some think removing statues of Macdonald and his buddy Ryerson are counterproductive. It does little to educate the population to their dubious deeds. Out of sight, out of mind maybe. Doug Ford says he pushed to free Sir John A. Macdonald statue at Queen's Park This is the same principle being celebrated in America. Statues of Southern Confederate war heroes, as well as Christopher Columbus, don't have long lifespans any more. It seems such a waste to destroy such works of art. Creations the sculptors spent weeks, even months labouring over. For that, as a playwright and novelist, I am sympathetic. For Canada's sesquicentennial in 2017, I was asked to write a play about our first prime minister called Sir John A: Acts of a Gentrified Ojibway Rebellion, for the National Arts Centre. (A remount opens on June 18 at the Blyth Festival in Ontario.) Many felt my script wasn't mean enough to the man. Others felt I didn't give him enough respect. One interesting solution might be to create a park only for such controversial statues. Wall-to-wall discussions and arguments. Maybe even provide things to throw at the statues. Here's another idea: maybe build this park somewhere along Dundas Street in Toronto. There's been discussion about changing the name because the street is named after Henry Dundas, a prominent politician who played a role in delaying the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. Birds of a feather … And hey, why not? I've seen museums dedicated to torture and other such politically incorrect issues. History is written by the winners. And winners with guilty consciences can often take two steps back. Many, if not most, Indigenous people want to eliminate all such monuments to questionably monumental people. Tanya Talaga, on CBC Radio, even suggested Macdonald's statue remain where it is, and how it is. Boxed up. Perhaps a grand metaphor for the reserves he placed Indigenous people on. The difference here is to add a plaque or sign to the statue detailing his contributions more accurately. National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21 is fast approaching. Contrary to popular belief, it's not when Nanabush comes down the sewer pipe and leaves little dreamcatchers hidden throughout the house. It's a time to recognize and celebrate the traditions, cultures and contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis. In the end, I'm not sure how much these statues matter. Despite all of Macdonald's efforts, the Indigenous people of this land survived everything he threw at us. All things considered, a large chunk of sedentary metal can't hurt us.
National Post
3 days ago
- General
- National Post
Greg Piasetzki: John A. Macdonald's return to Queen's Park an opportunity for historical literacy
This summer, the Ontario government will remove the box that has, for several years, concealed the statue of Sir John A. Macdonald at Queen's Park. It was in 2020 — after several statues across Canada had been painted, toppled and even beheaded — that Macdonald's likeness in Ontario's capital was boarded up. Article content Uncovering the statue is a welcome move. But if that's all we do, we are likely to find ourselves back here again before long. Until Canadians are willing to revisit the actual historical facts — and in particular Macdonald's relationship with Indigenous-Canadians — the cycle of erasure and outrage will continue. Article content Article content Article content The most widespread and damaging misunderstanding is the idea that every Indigenous child was forced by law to attend a residential school, was taken far from home, kept for years and subjected to routine abuse. This narrative has become almost universally accepted in Canada. Article content Article content However, the reality is that, in many years, the majority of Indigenous children who attended school went to day schools and most of the students dropped out after Grade 1, whether at day or residential schools. These facts were well known at the time. They were discussed in Parliament and reported in mainstream newspapers. Article content For example, in 1946, decades after the first residential schools were built, the Globe and Mail reported that, 'Of the 128,000 Indians in this country, only 16,000 last year received formal schooling. Of this number, few stayed more than a year and only 71 … reached Grade 9.' Article content A populist movement towards compulsory education had begun in the 1870s in Canada; by the 1940s, most Canadian children were required to attend school till at least age 15. However, the government in Macdonald's day, and through many subsequent prime ministers, respected the wishes of Indigenous families, who were not forced to keep their children in school beyond the early grades. Article content Article content Clearly, neither Macdonald's government, nor any succeeding one, was engaged in genocide, cultural or otherwise. There were also a number of initiatives of Macdonald's governments that likely saved tens of thousands of Indigenous lives and are equally inconsistent with the notion that he had any interest in genocide. Article content Article content Smallpox killed thousands of Indigenous people in Canada in some pre-Confederation years and Macdonald's governments, in the colonial era, and later when he was prime minister, ran programs to ensure that every Indigenous person in Canada, no matter how remote their location, was vaccinated against it, thus ending the threat. Article content Similarly, when the buffalo population collapsed, Macdonald immediately initiated what was certainly the largest famine relief operation in Canadian history. Moving supplies across the county when no railway existed was an enormous undertaking, and it had the usual missteps associated with a hastily organized program of this scale. However, the program likely saved thousands of lives and avoided a human catastrophe across western Canada.
National Post
28-05-2025
- General
- National Post
FIRST READING: Restored John A. Macdonald statue could be beginning of the end for history purge
Article content Ryerson University renamed itself as Toronto Metropolitan University in 2022, over connections to the Indian Residential School system. Article content Although Egerton Ryerson was long dead before the establishment of the first Indian residential school, he had advocated a program of Indigenous children being taught 'industry and sobriety' at boarding schools located far from their home communities. Article content Indian residential schools have also largely characterized the push to remove symbols of Sir John A. Macdonald. Although Macdonald was the singular figure who stitched together Canada's current form, his record on Indigenous affairs was controversial even in his own time. Article content The renaming trend has slowed to a trickle of late, particularly amidst a wave off flag-waving patriotism sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war against Canada, and repeated annexation threats. An ongoing Toronto District School Board renaming push remains one of the only such programs underway at a governmental level. Article content But the announced unboxing of Ontario Legislative Assembly's Macdonald statue represents one of the first times that a government will be reversing a sanction imposed against a Canadian historical symbol over the past five years. Article content It occurs amid a recent debate in Wilmot, Ont., to similarly restore a Macdonald statue that was placed into storage after being splashed with red paint in 2020. Beginning last year, the community began consultations on a possible re-installation of the statue, which depicts Macdonald holding two chairs, a symbol of his bringing together of rival camps in the negotiations that created Canada. Article content Tuesday's speech from the throne, read by King Charles III, is actually one of the few ways to divine what the Carney government intends to do, since they've dispensed with the usual indicators such as a budget or specific mandate letters. Article content It may also be notable for what it didn't contain: Article content Woke stuff. As noted by National Post's John Ivison, the speech is entirely free of the culture war beats that defined so much of the Trudeau era. As recently as 2021, the Speech from the Throne was laden with lines like 'fighting systemic racism, sexism, discrimination, misconduct and abuse, including in our core institutions will remain a priority.' Any mention whatsoever of oil and gas. Or pipelines, for that matter. All it does is repeat a Liberal campaign pledge to make Canada the 'world's leading energy superpower in both clean and conventional energy.' Article content Article content Article content It was only six months ago that the Liberal Party was polling at historic lows due in large part to the refusal of then prime minister Justin Trudeau to resign. As was frequently noted at the time, the Liberals could have easily swapped out their unpopular leader much earlier if only they'd bothered to sign on to the Reform Act, a piece of legislation that gives the caucus enhanced powers to trigger a leadership review. With the start of a new Parliament, the Liberals had a fresh opportunity to subscribe to the terms of the Reform Act and avoid any future debacles with leaders who refuse to leave. They decided 'no.' A source told National Post that a 'large majority' Liberal MPs voted against holding Prime Minister Mark Carney to the terms of the Reform Act. Article content Article content Article content
CTV News
27-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Hoarding covering Sir John A. Macdonald statue at Queen's Park to be removed
Hoarding covers the statue of Canada's first prime minister John A. MacDonald outside Queen's Park in Toronto. (CTV News Toronto) TORONTO — Hoarding that has covered a statue of Sir John A. Macdonald on the grounds of the Ontario legislature for the past five years is set to soon be removed. The statue of Canada's first prime minister has been boxed up since 2020, when it was vandalized. The monument was one of many to be targeted across the country amid anti-racism protests and as Canadians grappled with the history of residential schools. A man places flowers on a statue of Sir John A. Macdonald after demonstrators threw pink paint on it at Queen's Park in Toronto on Saturday, July 18, 2020. A man places flowers on a statue of Sir John A. Macdonald after demonstrators threw pink paint on it at Queen's Park in Toronto on Saturday, July 18, 2020. The man said it was disappointing to see the statue vandalized and the flower were to show his respect to Sir John A. CANADIAN PRESS/Carlos Osorio Macdonald is considered an architect of the country's notorious residential school system that took Indigenous children from their families in an effort to assimilate them. Progressive Conservative and Liberal members of a non-partisan board of the legislative assembly agreed earlier this month on a motion to remove the hoarding after the statue is cleaned. Speaker Donna Skelly says the statue should be ready this summer and she welcomes both supporters and protesters to come to Queen's Park. Government House Leader Steve Clark says a legislative committee has been tasked with looking at how to respect Indigenous representation at Queen's Park amid a project to rehabilitate the building. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 27, 2025. Allison Jones and Liam Casey, The Canadian Press
CBC
27-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Sir John A. Macdonald statue at Queen's Park to be uncovered after 5 years
Hoarding that has covered a statue of Sir John A. Macdonald on the grounds of the Ontario legislature for the past five years is set to soon be removed. The statue of Canada's first prime minister has been boxed up since 2020, when it was vandalized. The monument was one of many to be targeted across the country amid anti-racism protests and as Canadians grappled with the history of residential schools. Macdonald is considered an architect of the country's notorious residential school system that took Indigenous children from their families in an effort to assimilate them. Progressive Conservative and Liberal members of a non-partisan board of the legislative assembly agreed earlier this month on a motion to remove the hoarding after the statue is cleaned. Speaker Donna Skelly says the statue should be ready this summer and she welcomes both supporters and protesters to come to Queen's Park. Government House leader Steve Clark says a legislative committee has been tasked with looking at how to respect Indigenous representation at Queen's Park amid a project to rehabilitate the building.
