MP Seeks Pardon For Louis Riel

MP Seeks Pardon For Louis Riel

Wednesday, November 18, 2009 at 12:13

A Winnipeg MP is calling on the federal government to pardon Louis Riel.

Pat Martin launched a private member’s bill in the House of Commons some time ago, calling for the Metis leader to be exonerated by the government.

Martin says Riel was unjustly prosecuted by the Canadian government, and it’s high time the feds own up to that injustice.

This is the third time Martin has tried to gain a pardon for Riel.

Martin says he thinks it’s hard for the government to own up to gross mistakes like this one, but he says it’s something that has to be done.

“We’re only waiting for the final gesture, the gesture of goodwill that once and for all not just pardons Louis Riel but exonerates him completely, and states he was never guilty of treason and should never have been convicted. In fact, he was murdered by the Crown. And that’s quite an admission for the government of Canada to make. So it’s been a slow process,” he says.

Martin is also calling for a statue of Riel to be placed on Parliament Hill.