Victoria's mayor says despite what are some saying, a decision to fast-track the removal of Sir John A. Macdonald's statue was the right thing to do.
An advisory committee Lisa Helps heads up, the City Family, made the recommendation in the interest of reconciliation, and wanted it done quickly to avoid a long debate in the community.
Helps notified council of the committee's decision days before councillors were to vote on the matter, and without wider public consultation.
The statue came down 2 days later, sparking much public outrage.
Speaking on CFAX with Adam Stirling, Helps stood by the way it was done, comparing it to "pulling off a band aid" quickly to avoid prolonged pain -- or in this case a prolonged conversation in the community on whether the statue should stay or go.
Stirling pointed out that conversation is happening anyway. Helps replies:
" Right. Exactly. But, but the real conversation has yet to happen. And I'm going to look you in the eye in the same way I did before when I told you the truth, and I'm going to tell you, and I'm going to tell all your listeners, that there will be no more band aids, that we will, now that the statue has been removed, have a wider conversation about reconciliation and commemoration, and how we balance those 2 things here in the city of Victoria, on Lekwungen territory".
The mayor says the community will have the chance to share their opinions on where they would like the statue to be displayed:
" And what we will do, clearly there's a desire to have a conversation about reconciliation in the city. Clearly there's a desire to have a conversation. And this is the one I'm really looking forward to. What is the best place and way to put the statue of John A. Macdonald that tells this more fulsome story? So the community will be involved in that."
Helps adds those who say the move was a political stunt should know her campaign staff are not pleased with the fallout.