The Arrogance and Ignorance of Vandals

Vincent J. Curtis

10 Nov 20

The statue to Sir John A. Macdonald in Hamilton's Gore Part was vandalized last night by pouring red paint all over it, and painting "Land Back" on the sidewalk in front of it.  The statue to Macdonald was erected in 1893 and was one of the first in Canada erected to hi memory.  "Land Back" is the slogan of the aboriginal protesters occupying land in Caledonia that is under development for new housing and is not actually being claimed by anyone.  So far, no arrests, but it must have taken a lot of work to vandalize the statue.  No witnesses have as yet come forward.  This is one of the busiest places in Hamilton.  The Spectator reporter described Macdonald as below.

Sir John A. Macdonald was described as “a controversial historical figure” who just happens to be remembered as a founder of Canada.  His cause of infamy is that he was Prime Minister of the government that founded residential schools for Indians.  Since education is a provincial responsibility, but Indian affairs a federal one, the federal government had to take on the responsibility of education of Indian children in the vast North West Territories, even after the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba were carved out of it.

Macdonald must have spent no more than an afternoon considering the policy of educating Indians.  As Prime Minister, his more important task was to ensure Western Canada was populated with Europeans and in general to make sure that Americans did not try to occupy Canadian territory.

By the time Macdonald died in 1891, the residential school system had hardly begun, and enrollment numbered in the low hundreds.  The system was carried on until 1991, and expanded and continued under such Liberal luminaries as Wilfred Laurier, William Lyon Mackenzie-King, Louis St. Laurent, Lester Pearson, and Pierre Trudeau.  It was Mr. Trudeau who proposed abolition of the status of Indian altogether in preparation for the Charter of Rights.  The White Paper of 1969 remained the quasi-official position of the Liberal Party until officially revoked by Justin Trudeau in 2014.

Cancelling Macdonald uniquely for the excesses of residential schools, especially those after his death, is an exhibition of arrogance and ignorance.

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