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Senator says survey showing Canadians think gov't apologizes too much for residential schools is 'refreshing'

Sen. Lynn Beyak removed from the Conservative caucus earlier this year
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Lynn Beyak

THUNDER BAY -- Sen. Lynn Beyak, who was removed from the Conservative caucus earlier this year after a history of controversial comments about Indigenous people, is now drawing attention to a recent online survey claiming the majority of Canadians believe the government apologizes too much for residential schools.

The Northwestern Ontario senate representative earlier this week issued a news release, claiming the results of Angus Reid Institute survey released on June 7 suggest "Canadians and the current government are on completely different pages when it comes to the future of Indigenous peoples."

The survey sampled nearly 2,500 Canadians in March, which found 53 per cent found the government apologized too much for residential schools while more than half agreed that Indigenous people would be better off to integrate more into society, even if it meant losing more of their culture and traditions. It also found the majority believed that Indigenous people should have no special status, and two-thirds said Indigenous communities should be governed by the same rules as other Canadians.

In January, the Dryden senator was removed from the Conservative caucus by party leader Andrew Scheer, with the decision attributed to her refusal to take down what Scheer deemed racist comments on her website. Beyak had previously gained national notoriety for defending residential schools as "well-intentioned" and calling for the removal of special status for Indigenous people.

Beyak in the press release said it was “refreshing to read an unbiased article that truly reflects what Canadians believe will help our whole country move forward and prosper.”

The survey found 35 per cent of the respondents indicated they have no contact with Indigenous people, while 17 per cent said they have close, personal relationships.

Pollster Angus Reid told Maclean's his team wanted to look at issues facing Indigenous people because it's a topic that's been much debated in Canada.


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Michael Charlebois

About the Author: Michael Charlebois

Michael Charlebois was born and raised in Thunder Bay, where he attended St. Patrick High School and graduated in 2015. He attends Carleton University in Ottawa where he studies journalism.
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