Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to rise in this House today to speak to Bill C-297, an act to revoke the conviction of Louis David Riel.
The Bloc Quebecois is once again addressing this issue in the House because we believe it is crucial to resolve the historical injustice sullying to this day the memory of Louis David Riel. It is important to put an end to the paradox surrounding the status of Louis Riel.
In fact, still today, in 1996, Riel legally remains a criminal who was sentenced for high treason in 1885. But at the same time, the House of Commons recognizes Riel as one of the Fathers of Confederation, since unanimously passing a motion on March 10, 1992.
I think we have to render to Riel what is Riel's. Quebecers and Canadians must be made aware of Riel's initiatives, since they reflect the courage and the will of this man to fight for the basic rights of his people.
Of course, this bill will not bring Louis Riel back to life, but justice would have been done, because after being sentenced for high treason by a kangaroo court, Riel was hanged in November 1885, at the age of 41.
Hon. members will have to agree that we cannot in all decency acclaim Louis Riel as a national hero while ignoring his ignominious conviction for high treason that has yet to be revoked.
If I could, I would like to give the hon. members some historical background so they can better understand the scope of the injustice done to Riel. By reviewing the 1885 events, we can see how important this conviction was for the relations between central and western Canada.
First, it is, of course, important to realize that the majority of those who were called Metis at the time were a mix of aboriginal people, coureurs de bois, employees of the fur companies and European-born trappers who had as their main characteristics the fact that they were French speaking and Catholic.
Representing more than 80 per cent of Manitoba's total population in the 1870s, the Métis had their way of life disturbed by the arrival of successive waves of settlers from the east. With the help of an unscrupulous Conservative government, these new settlers kept the best lands for themselves and took political control of the whole region.
From that moment on, the Métis started to mobilize against the invader. They followed a man known for his commitment to the cause of the Métis people. That man was Louis David Riel. Riel, who had studied law and had been secretary of a national Métis committee in 1870, was known for having worked on the establishment of a list of rights that set out the terms for Manitoba's entry into the Canadian Confederation.
Confrontations between Ottawa's envoys and the Métis people culminated with the death of a land surveyor killed by order of a national council then headed by Riel. The militant Anglo Protestants never forgave Riel for that.
However, in Quebec, Riel became a mythical figure, a hero and a defender of the French culture and the Catholic faith.
Despite being exiled, Riel was elected to this House for the first time in 1873 in a byelection and was re-elected in 1874. He was expelled from the House by means of a motion brought forward by an Orangeman. That was the start of many years of wandering, depression and confinement for Riel.
I want to say this because our goal is not to change or correct history, but to show all the nuances that will help people better understand our history. Louis Riel did not lead an exemplary life. Like everybody else, he made mistakes. In March 1885, in a last attempt to defend the rights of the Métis people, he and his men rose up in arms to form an interim government in Batoche and demanded the surrender of Fort Carlton.
After a battle that lasted a few months, he was forced to surrender. He was executed in November 1885, and his execution gave rise to the heated debate that is still going on today and created a very deep gap between francophones and anglophones.
The francophones who had strongly supported Riel demonstrated against the decision, which they considered revolting. Over 50,000 Montrealers, a third of the city's population at the time, took to the streets of centre town to express their outrage.
But the harm was done: by putting the Metis leader to death, the central authorities of the day had managed to silence the claims of a whole nation. These details are important, especially in view of the 4,000 page report just released by the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples.
It contains recommendations relating to Metis claims. In the fourth volume, on page 244, the commissioners recommend actions aimed at preserving and developing the Metis culture which is becoming extinct. Considered today as being among the poorest of aboriginals in Canada, the Metis have no territory nor political representation. Seen in that perspective, the elimination of Louis Riel certainly allowed the Canadian authorities of the day to reach their despicable goal.
This injustice to Louis Riel must be put right. Let us remind the Liberals who are now the government that the Liberal leader of the time, then the Leader of the Opposition, Sir Wilfrid Laurier himself, had supported Louis Riel and the cause he was standing for. He stated, and I quote: "If I had been on the shores of the Saskatchewan river, I too would have raised my rifle."
The status of Louis Riel is so ambiguous today that even the Department of Canadian Heritage has recognized him as a person of national historic importance since 1956. He is described in the records of that department as "Metis leader, the Father of Manitoba, and leader of the Northwest rebellion in 1885". But in the eyes of the law, he is still a traitor.
In 1985, the one hundredth anniversary of Riel's execution, several leading political figures in the House and in the Senate spoke, and I would like to quote some of their remarks. Liberal senator Joseph-Philippe Guay said: "Riel has become a symbol, first of a linguistic and cultural minority whose rights to survive have long been ignored and are, to this day, still in jeopardy-"
Senator Guay acknowledged: "Riel was not beyond reproach", but he added: "If we remember him today, it is because the fight to which he devoted his whole life is largely still ours today".
In 1985 also, the present heritage minister and Deputy Prime Minister made a statement on this occasion. I quote from the November 28, 1985 of Hansard :
-I now ask that this Conservative Government exonerate the victim of the conspiracy of another Conservative Government-Letters and diaries of the participants and observers indicate unethical tactics to obtain political benefits from the rebellion-The reason for the Macdonald Government's promotion of a common riot to a full blown rebellion was to win additional funding for the near bankrupt Canadian Pacific Railway. Louis Riel, who died unnecessarily, deserves to be exonerated by the Government and recognized as a victim of wrongdoing.
That is what the current Deputy Prime Minister of Canada said.
Today, the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Deputy Prime Minister has to face up to the principles she was advocating then, since her party now forms the government. If the government is really serious in wanting to act to settle the Riel issue once and for all, as a great number of members tried to do throughout the history of this country, it must do so now.
I want to reassure members of all sides that the only reason the Bloc Quebecois introduced this bill today is to put an end to this injustice, to give this House an opportunity to be consistent and to allow Louis David Riel to finally rest in peace, more than 110 years after his death.
Since Riel was hanged, Liberals, Conservatives, New Democrats as well as Bloc members have spoken in this House to have Louis Riel's conviction revoked.
Concerning this bill that we introduced today, we were very sad to read all the news reports, and the letters which were brought to our attention.
Mr. Speaker, I am anxious to clarify for everyone that the Bloc Quebecois has not proposed this bill in order to make partisan political gains. Nor is this an attempt to rewrite history according to one bias, ignoring everything else. No, the objective of Bill C-297 is simple. It is to clear the name of Louis Riel and give him the recognition he deserves.
Consequently, I urge all members of this House to support Bill C-297. The ambiguity surrounding this Metis leader has existed for too long now. Now is the time to give him the recognition he deserves for being the hero he was and still is.
Too many young people are still learning in school that Riel was nothing more than a rebel and an outlaw. This is tragic and appalling. This great man, who helped found Manitoba and defended the rights of his people, will get the recognition he truly deserves in the history of this country only if we revoke his conviction.