Trudeau says scaling up vaccination efforts, addressing ‘historic wrongs’ among 2022 priorities

“I know the incredible strength, determination and compassion that we have seen in our communities over the past year will continue to inspire and guide us into the New Year,” he said.

The country has also confronted its past after the discovery of unmarked graves and burial grounds near former residential schools.

“Deep wounds have been reopened”

In May, it was announced that a ground penetrating radar at the site of a former Tk’emlups te Secwepemc Nation school in Kamloops, B.C., had detected what are believed to be the remains. of 215 children. The same technology has been used elsewhere in the country to find anonymous graves.

“This has been a particularly difficult year for Indigenous peoples in Canada – deep wounds have been reopened as we face the harsh truths of our past and its tragic and continuing legacy,” he said. “We must continue to speak these truths, support the healing process that leads to reconciliation, and work together to end the injustices suffered by many Indigenous peoples. “

Canadians have also faced the effects of climate change with record heat waves, forest fires and historic floods that have destroyed communities and highways, he said.

British Columbia has suffered from inclement weather many times this year, including a heat wave that killed nearly 600 people across the province in June. A forest fire destroyed much of the village of Lytton, and flooding in November forced thousands to flee their homes in the southern part of the province.

“By learning the hard lessons of the past two years, we will end the fight against this pandemic and rebuild a stronger, fairer and more equitable Canada,” Trudeau said.