Should residential school denialism be a crime? Most Canadians think so, poll finds [Video]

A majority of Canadians would support making the denial of residential school atrocities a criminal offence, according to a new survey.

The Research Co. poll was conducted last month, after NDP MP Leah Gazan introduced a private member’s bill seeking to criminalize public denial of Canada’s residential school system, which forcibly separated Indigenous children from their families and culture, leading to widely documented physical, psychological and sexual abuse.

Asked how they would like their MP to vote on the bill, 57 per cent of survey respondents said they would “definitely” or “probably” want their local representative to back the proposal.

By comparison, 24 per cent said they would “definitely” or “probably” want their MP to vote the bill down, and 17 per cent weren’t sure.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberals have not indicated whether they will support the legislation, which has little chance of becoming law without the government’s endorsement.

Several countries have enacted similar laws against …