Trudeau Tofino vacation ‘more proof’ he doesn’t care about Indigenous rights, advocate says

The Indigenous organization found out about Trudeau's Tofino vacation on the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 'with shock and dismay,' they said in a press release.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau‘s decision to spend the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on vacation in Tofino, B.C., is “more proof” that he “does not give a f–k about Indigenous rights,” one national Indigenous organization said on Friday.

Lynn Groulx, the CEO of the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC), made the assertion in a Friday press release, where she cited former NDP MP Romeo Saganash — who once stood up in the House of Commons and said Trudeau “doesn’t give a f–k” about Indigenous rights. Saganash later apologized for the remark.

The organization found out about Trudeau’s Tofino vacation “with shock and dismay,” they said in a press release, especially given Trudeau’s past comments that “no relationship is more important to his government than its relationship with the Indigenous people of this country.”

“Those words ring incredibly hollow when Mr. Trudeau could not take the time that his own government set aside to reflect upon the tragedy of the Indian residential schools and instead chose to flit off to Tofino for a holiday,” Groulx said in the release.

Trudeau spent the commemorative holiday in Tofino with his family, despite his official itinerary placing him in private meetings in Ottawa.

The Prime Minister’s Office confirmed the vacation in a statement sent to Global News.

“Yes the PM is spending time in Tofino with family for a few days,” Trudeau’s spokesperson wrote.

“And, following his participation in last night’s ceremony marking the first National Day for Truth & Reconciliation, he is speaking today with residential school survivors from across the country.”