In a scathing commentary, Conrad Black has highlighted what he describes as the persistent "enfeebling ambiguity" of Canada on the world stage. His critique, published on January 10, 2026, focuses on two distinct issues: Prime Minister Mark Carney's recent statement on Venezuela and proposed legislation regarding the discussion of Canada's residential school history.
Carney's Calculated Ambiguity on Venezuela
Black dissects Prime Minister Mark Carney's official reaction to the removal of former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro. While he notes the statement was "commendably critical" of Maduro, Black argues it was strategically vague on matters of international law. This ambiguity, according to Black, allows Carney to pay lip service to legal principles while avoiding any action that might "aggravate our relations with the Trump administration." The analysis suggests this diplomatic caution is tied to ongoing, delicate trade negotiations with the United States.
The Push to Criminalize Residential School Discourse
Black then turns his attention to domestic legislative efforts, specifically Bill C-413 from 2024 and Bill C-254 from the previous year. These bills seek to amend the Criminal Code to treat downplaying or justifying the Indian residential school system as a criminal promotion of hatred. The proposed laws are modelled on existing statutes against Holocaust denial.
Black forcefully rejects the foundational premise of these bills. He argues that describing the residential school system as "genocidally inspired," as was stated in a 2022 parliamentary motion, is "unutterably scurrilous." He contends the schools were originally established to fulfill a federal responsibility to educate Indigenous children, a practical necessity given a widely scattered population. Black asserts that most students were enrolled by their parents and that many graduates credit the schools with providing literacy and a path out of poverty.
Debunking the 'Cultural Genocide' Narrative
The commentary challenges the concept of "cultural genocide" often associated with the schools. Black points out that the United Nations does not recognize such a category, and the process is typically termed assimilation. He interprets Sir John A. Macdonald's famous phrase about "separating the child from the native" as an intent to liberate children from poverty, not to eradicate their culture.
Black concludes that the proposed criminalization of certain historical viewpoints is not a path to reconciliation but rather a "blood libel on English and French Canadians." He frames the entire legislative effort as part of a "native victimhood industry" and dismisses the discovery of unmarked graves, stating none have been verified as belonging to residential school students.
