Statement by Liberal Party of Canada Leader Justin Trudeau on the Komagata Maru incident

August 6, 2014

HARTLEY BAY, BC – The Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on his recent announcement regarding the Komagata Maru incident:

“Earlier this week, I had the privilege of speaking at the 19th Annual Mela Gadri Babian Da, a wonderful celebration of Indo-Canadian culture and heritage. While there, I announced that – should a Liberal government be elected in 2015 – I would stand in the House of Commons and make a formal apology for the Komagata Maru incident.

“This year marks the 100th anniversary of that dark period in our country’s history, when 352 passengers were denied entry into Canada based solely on discriminatory immigration policy.

“In 2008, the Liberal Party of Canada introduced a motion that was passed unanimously in the House of Commons, calling on the government to issue a formal apology in Parliament for the Komagata Maru incident. However, six years later, there is no prospect of any such apology from the government on the horizon.

“The Liberal Party of Canada believes that our rich diversity is a source of strength for our country, and that we are fortunate to have hundreds of thousands of Sikhs who contribute to, and strengthen the national fabric of our country. A formal apology for the Komagata Maru incident is long overdue in Canada’s Parliament.”