CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Charlottetown council reiterated its commitment Monday to leaving a controversial piece of art on Victoria Row
The subject of the Sir John A. Macdonald bench statue came up during the regular monthly meeting of council on Monday.
Coun. Mike Duffy said he listened to a radio report that indicated the statue might be moved.
Duffy reminded council that it has already voted to leave the statue in place but wondered why there was conflicting information in the media.
Coun. Kevin Ramsay, who chairs a sub-committee that is in talks with Indigenous groups about putting a plaque at the location, said nothing has changed as far as he is concerned.
A plaque telling the story of Macdonald’s role in Confederation currently sits next to the statue. However, Ramsay’s sub-committee is talking about a putting in a second plaque, one that would tell the other side of the story, such as the former prime minister’s role in the residential school system, which led to the abuse of Indigenous children.
The statue has also been the target of vandals.
In June, it was doused with red paint. Earlier this month, it was tipped over and dragged. The man who tipped it over was arrested and will appear in court later this month.
