Liberal and NDP MPs shut down debate into widespread church burnings
By Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
Liberal and NDP MPs swiftly struck down a committee motion on Tuesday by Conservative MP Arnold Viersen to condemn over 80 incidents of arson and vandalism targeting churches across Canada.
The motion, presented at the Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee Oct. 24, aimed to denounce the arson and vandalism on the 83 churches across the country, extend condolences to affected communities, and call for justice against the perpetrators.
True North compiled a map featuring all of the incidents following the 2021 claim that over 200 suspected graves were discovered by ground penetrating radar near a residential school in Kamloops, British Columbia.
Viersen introduced a motion that the committee “condemn the arson attacks of over 80 churches across Canada; and in particular, extend their condolences to the community of Grouard and Kapawe’no First Nation with the loss of St. Bernard Church, one of the oldest churches in Alberta, a piece of history, the building that holds memories for generations of community members, and that the committee reaffirm freedom of religion and assembly and call on those responsible for these attacks to be brought to justice.”
Instead of adopting the motion, Liberal MP Jaime Battiste called for a vote to adjourn the debate which successfully passed, receiving seven votes in favour as opposed to four against.
“What has happened over the past few years with reconciliation and with churches and with the Pope coming to apologize, there’s a deep need for reflection and reconciliation, but I really want to get to the end of this study,” said Battiste.
“We’ve called to adjourn debate on this. I would like to call to adjourn debate on this if that’s what we can do, so we can hear the rest of the study, but if we have to, then I would rather discuss it in camera because it does have a way of triggering a lot of people who went through residential schools and the things they are going through.”
In a statement, Viersen called the decision to end the debate “shameful” and a disgrace to the memories of those affected.