Using ‘genocide’ to describe the deaths of Indigenous women and girls in Canada is being disputed by Conservative leader Andrew Scheer.
Scheer says while he agrees with “lots” of the recommendations presented by the National Inquiry into Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls last week, he suggests genocide is a term he does not agree with.
He believes the tragedy is “its own heartbreaking situation” and does not fall into “that category of genocide.”
Scheer thinks the government has to be careful with the use of the term since the ramifications of using that word are “profound” and “carries a lot of meaning.”
The federal Tory leader adds, findings of genocide could subject Canada to “international actions.”