ASK THE PEOPLE: P.E.I. residents weigh in on Sir John A. Macdonald statue controversy
Jim Day · Journalist
| Posted: June 18, 2020, 8:58 a.m. | Updated: June 18, 2020, 10:22 a.m. | 3 Min Read
This bench statue of Sir. John A. Macdonald, Canada’s first prime minister, has stirred up some controversy in Charlottetown. City Hall has received emails asking to have the statue removed because people say the man was racist against Indigenous people. - Dave Stewart
CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Should the statue of Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada's first prime minister, which is located on the corner of Queen Street and Victoria Row in downtown Charlottetown, be removed?
Andy Gallant, Charlottetown: “He is a founder of the country, and it seemed that he was able to get elected because he had a pretty good sense of what the people wanted. I also think that the residential schools had a lot of unintended consequences … if I became convinced that John A. had horrible intentions when he constructed those things than I would say, ‘yes, take it (the statue) away’ but I am not convinced."Jonathan Hamel, Belfast: “The concern is in the debate of whether or not we should actually remove these things. Personally, I am of the opinion let’s keep them there, but let’s tell the whole story. Let’s not white-wash it."Judy Pouliot, Charlottetown: “I would tend to agree with the Indigenous people that Sir John A. should be removed from his bench because I agree with the way they feel about the way he treated the Indigenous people."Dave Burt, Charlottetown: “I have no problem either way. One part of it, it is our history, but at the other time, if it is insensitive, then remove it."Norm Finlayson, Charlottetown: “Well, it is a conflict, isn’t, it that we all have in this part of Canadian history – an important part of it. I can understand the anger of Indigenous people from his behaviour."Marlene Mol, Rice Point: “I think it should stay. It’s actually a part of the history of Charlottetown and everywhere. In fact, to a lot of the tourists that come, they take their pictures with it, and all across the world it goes."Dawna Constable, Vernon River: “Well, I think he should stay. He’s a big part of Canadian history. He’s a Father of Confederation."
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