King Charles and Queen Camilla are currently visiting Canada, and there’s a strong push for them to seek an apology regarding the historical treatment of British children sent to Canada. These children, known as "Home Children," were shipped from orphanages in the UK between 1869 and 1948. Over 100,000 of them were sent to Canada, where many faced harsh conditions and were often exploited as cheap labor.
Campaigners are urging the royal couple to take this opportunity to address the "dire circumstances" these children endured. They believe that an apology from the Canadian government would acknowledge the suffering caused by these past policies and help in the healing process for the survivors and their descendants.
John Jefkins, a campaigner whose father was among those transported to Canada, emphasized the importance of this apology. He described the treatment of Home Children as horrific, stating that many were abused and treated as second-class citizens. Jefkins sees the royal visit as a chance to bring attention to their plight and to reinforce the need for an official acknowledgment of the wrongs done.
Canada has previously resisted calls for an apology, unlike the UK and Australia, which have both issued formal statements of regret for their roles in these child migration schemes. Jefkins believes that King Charles, as the new Head of the Commonwealth, could play a vital role in changing this stance during his visit.
The Canadian government has expressed regret over the policy that allowed for the mistreatment of these children, stating that such actions would not be acceptable today. They are committed to keeping the memory of the British Home Children alive and learning from the mistakes of the past.
As King Charles and Queen Camilla continue their two-day visit, they will engage in various activities, including the King’s Speech from the Throne to open Canada’s parliament. This visit is seen as an important moment for both the monarchy and the country, as it reflects on Canada’s history and the people who helped shape it.