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King Charles and Queen Camilla are being encouraged to use their Canada visit as an opportunity to seek an apology for the abuse of British children.
Activists have urged them to apologize for the “dire circumstances” faced by the so-called “Home Children” over many years.
Between 1869 and 1948, more than 100,000 children were sent from UK orphan homes to Canada, often used as cheap labor, such as farm workers and domestic servants. Many were subjected to mistreatment and abuse.
Canada has so far resisted calls to apologize for its involvement in child migration schemes, unlike the UK and Australia.
King Charles and Mark Carney on Monday. Pic: PA
Advocates for the Home Children see the royal visit as a significant chance for a change in stance.
“I would request that King Charles uses his trip to ask for an apology,” John Jefkins told Sky News.
John Jefkins
John’s father, Bert, was among 115,000 British Home Children transported to Canada, arriving in 1914 with his brother Reggie.
“It’s crucial for the Home Children themselves and for their descendants,” John emphasized.
“This is something we deserve, and it is vital for the healing process, as well as raising awareness about the experiences of the Home Children.
“They were treated very, very poorly by the Canadian government at the time. Many were abused, treated terribly. They were second-class citizens, akin to outcasts.”
King and Queen at Ottawa Airport. Pic: PA
John added: “I believe the King’s visit is an excellent opportunity to reinforce our campaign and pursue an apology because we’re part of the Commonwealth and King Charles is the new Head of the Commonwealth meeting a new Canadian Prime Minister. It’s a chance for both to reconsider the situation with fresh eyes.
“There’s much about this visit that looks at our sovereignty and who we are as Canadians, and rightly so.
“I also think it’s appropriate that as we contemplate the country we’ve built, we recognize the people who built it, many under the most challenging circumstances.”
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King Charles and Queen Camilla have been urged to use their upcoming visit to Canada as an opportunity to apologize for the mistreatment of British children known as “Home Children” who were sent to Canada from the UK over several decades.
Advocates for these individuals have been pushing for an apology for the “dire circumstances” these children endured.
Between 1869 and 1948, over 100,000 children were transferred from UK orphan homes to Canada, where many were exploited as cheap labor, often as farm workers or domestic helpers, and faced mistreatment and abuse.
Despite similar apologies made by the UK and Australia, Canada has not yet followed suit in apologizing for its involvement in the child migration schemes.
King Charles and Mark Carney on Monday. Pic: PA
Activists for the Home Children view the royal visit as “a great opportunity” for a shift in stance on this matter.
“I would urge King Charles to use his visit to call for an apology,” said John Jefkins to Sky News.
John Jefkins
John’s father, Bert, was one of 115,000 British Home Children who were transported to Canada, arriving in 1914 with his brother Reggie.
“It’s very important for the Home Children themselves and for their descendants,” John stressed.
“It’s something we deserve, and it’s particularly significant for the healing process, as well as for increasing awareness of the Home Children’s experiences.
“They were treated very, very badly by the Canadian government at that time. They were subjected to abuse, treated horribly. They were treated as second-class citizens, almost like outcasts.”
King Charles III and Queen Camilla upon arrival at Ottawa Airport. Pic: PA
John further stated: “I believe the King’s visit presents a good opportunity to bolster our campaign and to seek an apology, as we are part of the Commonwealth and King Charles is the new Head of the Commonwealth meeting the new Prime Minister of Canada. It’s a chance for both to reassess the situation with fresh eyes.
“This visit provides a chance to reflect on our sovereignty and our Canadian identity, which is important.
“It’s also appropriate to consider the people who contributed to building our nation, many of whom faced the most challenging circumstances.”
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Watch: What significance does the King’s Canada visit hold?
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King Charles and Queen Camilla are currently on a two-day visit to Canada.
On Tuesday, the King will deliver the Speech from the Throne to inaugurate the 45th session of Canada’s parliament.
Camilla was appointed Patron of Barnardo’s in 2016. The organization had sent tens of thousands of Home Children to Canada. She assumed this role after serving as president since 2007.
Buckingham Palace has been contacted for a response.
A spokesperson for the Canadian government stated: “The Canadian government is committed to keeping the legacy of the British Home Children alive.
“Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada sincerely regrets this unfair and discriminatory policy, which was in effect from 1869 to 1948. Such a policy would have no place in modern Canada, and we must learn from past mistakes.”
