Peterborough, ON - “It was the right thing to do and I was honoured to sit in the House of Commons representing Peterborough Riding on this historic occasion.” stated Dean Del Mastro, Member of Parliament for Peterborough Riding.

Today, the Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, delivered an apology to former students of Indian Residential Schools on behalf of all Canadians. It was a moving and important moment in Canadian history, and it is an important step toward healing and reconciliation.

Our Conservative Government recognizes the apology will not take away the sad legacy of the Indian Residential Schools system; however the apology demonstrates that our government remains committed to a fair and lasting resolution to the Residential Schools era and to moving forward in partnership with Aboriginal people across Canada.

While the Residential Schools apology was a truly historic moment, we continue to implement another historic agreement, the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement. It includes a Common Experience Payment, an Independent Assessment Process, Commemoration Activities, measures to support healing, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

We strongly believe that the 'Truth and Reconciliation Commission' presents a unique opportunity to increase awareness among all Canadians about the Indian Residential Schools system. It will be a positive step towards forging a new relationship between Aboriginal peoples and other Canadians. Justice Harry LaForme and his two Commissioners have now started this important five year journey- it is an opportunity to hear stories and comprehend what really happened in Residential Schools. We are all hopeful that the apology, followed by the Commission's work, will help move us along the pathway of reconciliation.

These initiatives allow us to address issues that have been ignored for far too long. What's more, both the apology and the Settlement agreement are simply the right thing to do. Our government had promised in the Speech from the Throne to deliver an apology, and thankfully it all came together in the spring session of Parliament. Now it's time to travel together towards healing and reconciliation with Canada's First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.