The statue of John A. Macdonald outside Queens Park has been unveiled after being covered for five years due to protests related to his role in the residential school system. The removal coincided with a legislative committee’s decision, recognizing the need for public discourse on Macdonald's complicated legacy, tied to both national unity and Indigenous suffering. Speaker Donna Skelly emphasized respectful discussion and confirmed post-removal monitoring to prevent vandalism, while acknowledging the deep feelings surrounding the statue, particularly from Indigenous voices like Sol Mamakwa's, who called it a painful reminder of a troubled history.
Children's shoes that were placed at the base of the statue after the discovery of possible unmarked graves on the grounds of former residential schools were "carefully and respectfully" removed and stored prior to the removal of the hoarding, the statement says.
As Speaker, I recognize the sensitivities surrounding the history of Canada's first Prime Minister and I welcome all Ontarians to express their views peacefully,
The question of what to do with the monument of Canada's first Prime Minister has been controversial.
It's not just a statue, it’s a source of pain.
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