Manitoba's newly minted minister for Indigenous reconciliation has issued an apology after he said those who ran residential schools believed "they were doing the right thing" minutes after being sworn in. "I would like to offer my sincerest apologies to all Indigenous and non-Indigenous Manitobans, and Canadians whom I have offended greatly with my remarks yesterday," Alan Lagimodiere said in a statement issued late Friday afternoon. Lagimodiere has been under fire since making the comments, which were called out to his face by Opposition leader Wab Kinew during Lagimodiere's first-ever press conference as minister for Indigenous reconciliation and northern relations. In his Friday statement, the minister said he recognized the "hard truths" of the impact of residential schools in Canada and Manitoba and that there's a "collective responsibility" to listen and learn. WATCH | Manitoba minister under fire over residential schools comment:

Source: CBC News July 16, 2021 22:02 UTC