Canadian MP introduces legislation against residential school denialism

Canadian Member of Parliament Leah Gazan has introduced legislation aimed at criminalizing extreme forms of residential school denialism when such actions willfully promote hatred against Indigenous peoples.

The proposal seeks to address instances where individuals deny or minimize the historical realities of residential schools, such as claiming the schools were not harmful, questioning the reliability of survivor testimonies, or exaggerating death tolls. The legislation follows a 2022 parliamentary move that made it a criminal offense to willfully promote antisemitism by denying or downplaying the Holocaust.

Proponents argue that denying or minimizing these historical atrocities can serve as a mechanism for promoting hatred against the victims. The historical record regarding residential schools includes government documents, evidence of conditions, and survivor testimonies.