Montreal. Canada celebrated “Emancipation Day” for the first time nationwide on Sunday to commemorate the abolition of slavery. “Today we pay tribute to people of African descent for their courage, determination and resilience to face the devastating effects of the transatlantic slave trade,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.

Trudeau said that despite the abolition of slavery in Canada nearly two centuries ago, the legacy of discrimination against blacks “remains embedded in our institutions, policies and actions.” He reaffirmed his determination to fight racism and intolerance.

Canada’s House of Commons and Senate unanimously decided in March to declare August 1 as “Emancipation Day” in Canada. In many Afro-Canadian communities, this day of remembrance has been celebrated for a long time, with it being recognized nationally for the first time on a Sunday.

America’s Right has discovered a new topic for itself: Critical Race Theory – it stands in the way of shedding light on the nation’s history.

On August 1, 1834, a law came into force that abolished slavery in the former British colonies, including Canada. AFP/ND