Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was “profoundly disappointed” in the vandals who brought down and defaced a Montreal statue of the first Prime Minister of Canada.
While talking to reporters in Montreal, the Prime Minister said he understands the impatience of citizens who want to see more action expedited on racism and discrimination but said the vandalism that happened last weekend is not an tenable way of expressing those views.
He said: “We are a country of laws and we as a country need to respect those laws even as we seek to improve and change them. Those kinds of acts of vandalism are not advancing the path towards greater justice and equality in this country.”
Montreal police disclosed the vandals flung a rope round the sculpture of John A. Macdonald and pulled it to the ground, causing its head to break.
Trudeau revealed Canadian society has a lot of work to do in fighting systemic discrimination and should talk about the actions of past leaders and the future of monuments that honour them.
He said: “He was our first prime minister and we have to recognize his role in the creation of the country and the world we live in, but we have to recognize where there were statements, perspectives or acts that were unacceptable.”
He however said the decision on how to progress needs to be made collectively and not by a small group that acts illegally.
Quebec Premier Francois Legault also spoke against the vandalism and told reporters that the statue would be repaired and re-erected.
Legault said: “Of course, we need to fight against racism, but that’s not the way to do it,” Legault said. “We have to respect the history.”
In the same vein, the Mayor of Montreal, Valerie Plante, said the Public Art Department of the city will supervise the restoration of the sculpture.
