Updated: Tue Nov. 17 2009 15:16:06

CTV.ca News Staff

Louis Riel's conviction for treason should be overturned, says a Manitoba MP, who adds that the hero of Metis across the Prairies should be recognized as a Father of Confederation more than 100 years after his death.

NDP MP Pat Martin has introduced a private members' bill in the House of Commons, calling for Riel's 1885 conviction to be reversed and to recognize him both as the founder of Manitoba and for his work in defence of Canada's Metis population.

"On the Prairies there's a very strong movement that wants to recognize him not only as the founder of Manitoba but one of the founders of Confederation, and he should be considered one of the Fathers of Confederation because it was he who brought Manitoba into Confederation in 1870 as our fifth province," Martin told CTV's Power Play on Monday, the 124th anniversary of Riel's death.

"So my bill is simply stating that it's overdue that we reverse the conviction of Louis Riel. Not just pardon him -- because pardon says that you're guilty of something but we're going to forgive it somehow. To reverse the conviction is to exonerate Louis Riel and state that he was never guilty of treason."

In 1869, Riel led the Red River Rebellion to assert Metis rights in what was to become Manitoba. Later that year, he was elected head of a provisional government in Red River and in 1870, helped usher Manitoba into Confederation.

While Riel was elected to the House of Commons three times, he did not take his seat in Ottawa. Instead, he left Canada, but returned to lead the Metis in the Northwest Rebellion.

The federal government convicted Riel of high treason and executed him on Nov. 16, 1885, for his role in the rebellion.

Martin has been trying for years to rehabilitate Riel's image in Canada. His latest bill to exonerate Riel, C-258, went through its first reading in January, and will likely not come up for debate until next year.

According to Martin, the Canadian government did not have the authority to charge Riel.

"These events took place outside of the realm of the Crown, and he was charged with treason as it pertains to the realm of the Crown. Any good lawyer should be able to drive a truck through a loophole like that but he didn't have a good legal defence," Martin said.

"(The government) had made up their minds early on that they were going to get rid of this nuisance agitator who was fighting for the rights of the Metis, and more and more as the history comes to the surface, we see that the government of Canada wanted Louis Riel out of the way and they worked backwards from that conclusion. Really, it's safe to say he was murdered by the Crown."

Comments are now closed for this story

Dan (manitoba)
I think it's time to let it go!

Dolores
I so strongly agree with David and Rick, they say it all.

Robert
NDP MP Pat Martin has WAY too much time on his hands. Would someone please give him something to do and remind him that our economy is still not doing too well and that there are still many people in Canada that do not have access to safe drinking water?

rick
We are getting as bad as the communists. When will we quit trying to rewrite history for monetary gain or personal political gain. This is like an epidemic here in Manitoba and I suspect else where.

David
Give me a break! Martin find another tree to bark up. I live in Manitoba. We are so over Riel...give it up.

st cyr alfred
At long last true history is revealing itself.

Tim
It is good know our government has solved all of our current problems, and are now working on stuff from 100 years ago. Way to go guys. Keep up the good work.

Tomm, Winnipeg
Martin says "These events took place outside of the realm of the Crown" --- not sure what he's talking about here -- the land of the Hudson's Bay Company, and the Canadian Prairies, then known as Territories, were part of the British Empire's land for many decades long before 1870, even though they were not Provinces yet. A major issue at the time was that Riel and his people were going to go their seperate way and refuse to be part of Canada, so that doesn't quite fit the description of a Father of Confederation. Anyways, Riel's death in 1885 is almost 125 years ago, and 1870 is almost 140 years ago.

Mike Thompson
It's "NEVER" to late to admit a wrong! And it is long over due! The naysayers would not have the negative attitude if it was one of their ancestors!