The exit of Jean Chrétien on the show Everybody talks about itSunday night, NDP MP Charlie Angus more than raised eyebrows.
Mr. Angus just does not believe the former prime minister when he says he knew nothing about the atrocities against Indigenous children in residential schools.
Mr. Chrétien made this statement while appearing on the program aired on Radio-Canada to brag about a new book he signed, entitled “My new stories”.
Mr. Angus, who was attending a press conference in Ottawa on Monday morning with survivors of the Sainte-Anne residential school, quoted a letter sent to Mr. Chrétien in 1968 when he was federal Minister of Indian Affairs.
“One of the most moving things that I saw in the evidence of Sainte-Anne is a letter written by hand by a teacher, in 1968, recounting to Jean Chrétien the crimes committed there against children”, relates Mr. Angus.
He adds that the letter asked Minister Chrétien to “do something.”
“Jean Chrétien never answered”, denounces the deputy today. “Imagine! […] How many children could have been saved? “, he asks.
“So, it is scandalous that Jean Chrétien today tries to exonerate himself for what happened at the Sainte-Anne boarding school. Because he knew! People joined him, begged him to do the right thing and he ignored them, ”accuses Mr. Angus.
” Never “
Mr. Chrétien offered a completely different version on the television show.
“We never mentioned this problem when I was minister,” he said. “In any way? », Insisted the host Guy A Lepage. “Never,” assured Mr. Chrétien.
And then, the former Prime Minister saw fit to present his experience in classic college boarding schools as an example.
“Residential schools, that was known, residential schools. I was a boarder from the age of 6 until the age of 21. So, I ate baked beans, then oatmeal. And it is sure that it is difficult, the life of a boarder, extremely difficult, ”he offered.
When co-host Anaïs Favron relaunched it – “you never heard of stories about residential schools, weren’t even rumors? – Mr. Chrétien confused crimes against Indigenous children with sexual assault on minors in schools run by religious congregations. “I have never had a problem. I must not have been a pretty little boy, I guess, ”he replied.
The former prime minister shared a few other surprising comments to say the least.
“In the United States, it was the army that went to destroy the Aboriginals. We are missionaries that we sent. It’s less dangerous, ”he said.
He defended his accomplishments as Minister responsible for Indigenous issues for six and a half years, praising his efforts to improve access to higher education for Indigenous youth.
“I even adopted an Indian son to set an example. […] And that proves my attachment to this problem, ”said Mr. Chrétien.