Pierre Poilievre, the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, has recently proposed a controversial policy that would make it the official policy of his government to build statues of Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada’s first prime minister, and reinstate his name in parks and public structures. While some Canadians view this move as a way to honour the founder of Confederation, many others, particularly Black Canadians and Indigenous communities, feel it is a reminder of the country’s painful and racist past. Macdonald’s policies, particularly his role in the establishment of the residential school system and his views on race, have left a lasting legacy of harm.
This article delves into how Poilievre’s new policy proposal could impact Black Canadians, especially when it comes to reconciling the nation’s racist history with its present-day aspirations of equality and inclusion. It also explores the personal perspectives of Black Canadians on how this policy feels like a slap in the face in the ongoing struggle against systemic racism.
For many Canadians, Sir John A. Macdonald is a symbol of national unity and the father of Confederation. He was instrumental in the formation of Canada as a nation in 1867 and led the country through its early years of development. However, Macdonald’s legacy is also deeply intertwined with policies that marginalized and oppressed Indigenous peoples and racial minorities.
As the architect of the Indian Act and a strong advocate for the establishment of residential schools, Macdonald’s policies laid the groundwork for the systemic disenfranchisement of Indigenous peoples. His views on race were not limited to Indigenous peoples. He expressed a clear disdain for non-white immigrants, referring to them as undesirable and proposing policies to keep them out of Canada.
In recent years, there has been a growing movement to remove statues of Macdonald from public spaces, driven by calls to reconcile with the painful legacy of racism and colonialism that his policies represented. This has been particularly important to marginalized communities, including Black Canadians and Indigenous peoples, who have borne the brunt of systemic racism.
Poilievre’s new policy proposal, which seeks to erect statues of Sir John A. Macdonald across Canada and reinstate his name in parks and public buildings, has been met with mixed reactions. While some supporters argue that Macdonald’s contributions to Canada’s founding are undeniable and deserve to be recognized, others question the wisdom of glorifying a figure with such a problematic legacy.
For Black Canadians, the policy feels particularly hurtful.
“Statues are not just historical artifacts. They are symbols of who we choose to honour and what values we prioritize as a society,” says Denise Carter, a Black Canadian activist and historian. “When we erect a statue of a man who saw Black people and Indigenous peoples as less than human, we are sending a message that our pain, our struggles, and our contributions are secondary to the comfort of those who want to hold on to a whitewashed version of history.”
Carter emphasizes that the decision to build statues of Macdonald is not just about history; it is about the ongoing experience of racism in Canada.
“Every time I walk by a statue of Macdonald, I am reminded that this country was built on the backs of people like me, who were considered inferior. It feels like the government is erasing that reality by celebrating someone who didn’t believe in the equality of all Canadians,” she adds.
For many Black Canadians, Poilievre’s policy feels like a step backward. It reminds them of the ways in which Canada’s history has erased or minimized the contributions and struggles of Black Canadians. Malcolm Jones, a community leader from Toronto, explains that while Canadians often see themselves as more progressive than their American neighbours, the reality is that Canada has its own deeply entrenched legacy of racism.
“People like to talk about the Underground Railroad and how Canada was a safe haven for Black slaves escaping the United States, but they don’t talk about the fact that slavery existed here too. They don’t talk about the systemic racism that continues to affect Black Canadians in education, in the job market, and in our healthcare system,” Jones says.
He adds that the decision to build more statues of Macdonald sends a clear message: “It says that Canada is more interested in honouring the people who upheld white supremacy than in confronting the ways in which that same system continues to harm Black Canadians and Indigenous peoples.”
In recent years, many Black Canadians have been pushing for a more honest reckoning with Canada’s history of racism and colonialism. This includes calls for the removal of statues and the renaming of public buildings that glorify figures like Macdonald, whose policies contributed to the oppression of racial minorities.
Dr. Natasha Williams, a professor of Canadian history at the University of British Columbia, argues that the way forward is not to erase history but to tell it more honestly.
“I think we need to be honest about who John A. Macdonald was and what his legacy is. We can’t just celebrate him as the father of Confederation without also acknowledging that he was responsible for policies that caused immense harm to Indigenous peoples and people of colour,” Williams says.
Williams points to the growing number of historians, activists, and community leaders calling for public spaces to reflect a more inclusive and accurate representation of Canadian history.
“We need to create spaces that honour the contributions of Black Canadians, Indigenous peoples, and other marginalized groups. There are so many figures from our history who deserve to be celebrated, but whose stories have been forgotten or erased,” she adds.
As Canada continues to grapple with its colonial past and its ongoing issues of systemic racism, many Black Canadians feel that the way forward is not to celebrate figures like Macdonald but to focus on reconciliation and inclusion. This means creating public spaces that reflect the diversity of Canada’s history and honouring those who have fought for justice and equality.
Angela Mitchell, a Black Canadian educator and activist, believes that Poilievre’s policy is out of step with the needs of the country.
“We don’t need more statues of John A. Macdonald. What we need are policies that address the systemic racism that continues to affect Black Canadians and Indigenous peoples. We need leaders who are willing to confront the truth of our history, not sugarcoat it,” Mitchell says.
She adds that while it is important to remember Canada’s history, it is equally important to recognize the ways in which that history continues to shape the present.
“Canada’s history of racism and colonialism isn’t just something that happened in the past. It’s something that is still happening today. We see it in the disparities in income, health, in education. We see it in the way that Black and Indigenous peoples are treated by the police. That’s what we need to focus on if we’re going to move forward as a country,” Mitchell concludes.
As Canada enters 2025, the debate over how to remember and honour its history continues to rage. For many Black Canadians, Poilievre’s proposal to build statues of Sir John A. Macdonald feels like a step in the wrong direction—a move that ignores the painful legacy of racism and colonialism that Macdonald represents.
Instead of glorifying figures from Canada’s racist past, many are calling for a more honest reckoning with that history, one that centers on the experiences and contributions of Black Canadians, Indigenous peoples, and other marginalized groups. Only by confronting the truth of its past can Canada hope to create a more just and equitable future for all its citizens.
