Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has said that residential school denialism should not be made a criminal offence, arguing that education and efforts to combat misinformation are better ways to address the issue.
Kinew described residential school denialism as detestable but said he disagrees with proposals to criminalize it. His position differs from that of Leah Gazan, the federal New Democratic Party (NDP) MP for Winnipeg Centre, who has pushed for changes to Canada’s Criminal Code to address statements denying, justifying or minimizing the harms caused by the residential school system.
Speaking to CBC Manitoba’s Up to Speed host Marcy Markusa on Friday, October 9, 2026, Kinew said he respects Gazan but believes the issue should be addressed through continued public education.
“I have a lot of respect for MP Gazan, but I don’t think we can criminalize this,” Kinew said, emphasizing the need to educate people and challenge misinformation about Canada’s residential school history.
Leah Gazan’s Bill Seeks Changes to the Criminal Code
Gazan first introduced Bill C-254 in October 2024. The proposed legislation sought to amend the Criminal Code to address the promotion of hatred against Indigenous people through statements that condone, deny, justify or minimize the residential school system.
The bill died when the federal election was called in 2025. Gazan reintroduced it in October 2025, renewing the debate over whether residential school denialism should be treated as a criminal offence.
Gazan has argued that survivors and their families need protection from hateful statements that dismiss or distort the history and consequences of residential schools. She has described the system as an attempt to destroy Indigenous cultures, languages, families and heritage.
As of October 9, 2026, the bill had not advanced beyond its first reading, according to the available report.
The History and Legacy of Residential Schools
For more than 150 years, Indigenous children across Canada were taken from their families and communities and sent to residential schools. The institutions were largely funded by the federal government and operated by Christian religious organizations.
The system aimed to assimilate First Nations, Inuit and Métis children into Euro-Canadian culture, separating many from their families, languages, traditions and communities. An estimated 150,000 Indigenous children attended residential schools, and the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation has documented thousands of child deaths associated with the institutions.
The legacy of residential schools remains a significant issue in Canada’s efforts toward truth, reconciliation and justice for Indigenous peoples. Survivors, families and communities continue to call for their experiences to be acknowledged and for the long-term effects of the system to be addressed.
Brandon Residential School Site Highlights Need for Education
Kinew has also emphasized the importance of keeping the history of residential schools alive through education and public awareness.
On September 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the Manitoba government announced a partnership with the City of Brandon to purchase a campground property that was once part of the Brandon Residential School site.
The property includes a former cemetery used between 1895 and 1912, where children from the school were buried. The provincial government said children’s remains are still present at the site.
Kinew dedicated a memorial there and later pointed to the importance of preserving historical memory. He said that even well-educated adults may be unaware of the extent of the deaths and suffering associated with residential schools.
The premier supports strengthening education about residential schools in Manitoba schools and believes learning should also extend into workplaces, churches, sports organizations and other community settings.
Education Versus Criminalization
Kinew’s comments add to the ongoing national debate about how Canada should respond to residential school denialism. Supporters of criminalization argue that denying or minimizing documented harms can deepen the suffering of survivors and undermine reconciliation. Kinew, however, believes that education and confronting misinformation are the better approach.
The debate raises broader questions about how Canada can protect Indigenous survivors and preserve historical truth while determining the appropriate legal response to denialist statements.
For Kinew, a central concern is ensuring that the history of residential schools does not fade from public memory. He has called for continued education so that future generations understand the system’s impact and the lessons Canadians must learn from it.
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