Leah Gazan Introduces Bill Against Residential School Denialism

NDP MP Leah Gazan has introduced a private member's bill aimed at criminalizing residential school denialism, stating it would help protect survivors and their families from hate. The proposed Bill C-413 would make it an offense to promote hatred against Indigenous Peoples by condoning or downplaying the historical impacts of residential schools, with offenders facing up to two years in jail or fines up to $5,000. Gazan emphasized that the residential school system was a genocide designed to erase Indigenous cultures and languages, and downplaying this reality is harmful. While the bill seeks to support reconciliation efforts, experts have raised concerns about potential free speech implications. Critics argue that regulating historical claims, even if misguided, could lead to a slippery slope in censorship. The bill has slim chances of becoming law without government support, as it is currently a private member's bill.