Ontario’s Elementary Teachers’ Federation has passed a motion demanding school boards across the province rename schools named after our first Prime Minister, Sir John A. MacDonald, because they say he committed genocide. 

With this move, we’re beginning to see parallels to what is happening to confederate monuments in the U.S.

Their rationale for the demand was stated this way:

“… in recognition of his central role as the architect of genocide against Indigenous peoples, the impact that this has on the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, parents and educators, and the ways in which his namesake buildings can contribute to an unsafe space to learn and to work.” 

While it’s fair to say that Canada, the U.S., the UK and Australia all have parts of our history that when viewed in retrospect were morally wrong, in this case it’s unfair and untrue to suggest he was the architect of genocide against First Nations. 

The fact that Sir John A. was a Conservative and not a Liberal clarifies the reasons for this attack on our history. 

Watch as I share two recent articles from the National Post and Globe and Mail that defend Sir John A. MacDonald's history with First Nations. 

When we contrast his positions to the Liberals at the time and Liberal Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier’s actions, we see the Liberals were far more racist. 

When it comes to the sins of our forefathers committed against First Nations, I believe Canada is on the right path to reconciliation. 

What we need to focus on in Canadian society is helping people today, not virtue signalling like social justice warriors about injustices of the past.