Category: Saint John

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a brief stop in Grand Bay-Westfield yesterday for an ice cream social in preparation for Canada Day.

Hundreds of people turned out to shake his hand, take a selfie and get him to autograph a flag.

Earlier in PEI, however, a controversy that erupted in Ottawa brought comments from Trudeau acknowledging the last 150 years of Canadian history has not been as positive for indigenous peoples. The prime minister says reconciliation with aboriginal Canadians needs to be a key theme of this year’s commemorations and reflect the diversity of the country.

One New Brunswick Senator won’t be celebrating Canada Day tomorrow.

Senator Sandra Lovelace Nicholas says she will not be celebrating because indigenous people are still being treated like third class citizens. Nicholas, who is from the Tobique First Nation, says she and her indigenous sisters and brothers will not be celebrating until all treaties are settled, all First Nations children enjoy equality in education, health care, safe drinking water, quality housing and governance in their own land.