Alberta Premier Jason Kenney strongly condemned the vandalism of the Sir John A. Macdonald statue in downtown Montreal on Saturday, going so far as to suggest moving it to his province.
• Read also: John A. Macdonald statue unbolted and beheaded
The statue of the controversial Prime Minister of Canada – regularly sprayed with paint in recent years – was debunked and beheaded on Saturday on the sidelines of a demonstration calling for a disinvestment in the police to redirect funds to community and health organizations mental.
Denouncing the actions of “gangs of thugs who vandalize our history with impunity”, Jason Kenney offered to take care of the famous monument.
“If the City of Montreal decides not to restore the statue of Macdonald where it has stood for 125 years, we will be happy to receive it for installation on the grounds of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta,” wrote the Premier of Alberta on his Twitter account on Saturday.
Jason Kenney also thanked, in French, Prime Minister François Legault who condemned the vandalism and called for the restoration of the statue.
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante also condemned the vandalism and argued that she believes the controversial statues should remain in place, while being put in context. However, it has not clearly stated its intentions vis-à-vis the monument at Place du Canada.
“The public art office will secure the perimeter and coordinate the conservation of the statue. In consultation with the city’s heritage experts, we will take the time to analyze the follow-up to be given, ”she indicated on social networks.
It should be noted that when John A. Macdonald became premier in 1867, Alberta was still a long way off. The province was founded and incorporated into Canada in 1905, along with Saskatchewan, from part of the Northwest Territories, 14 years after Macdonald’s death.
Considered one of the founding fathers of Canada, John A. Macdonald left behind a controversial legacy, between his role in the creation of the country and his actions taken against the First Nations peoples, including the creation of the residential schools.
–
