"I, like many of you joining us in the gallery today, was taken from my family as a five-year-old boy entering the formative years of my life, and placed in a world that taught me everything I knew was wrong," said the MLA for Rupertsland. "It's difficult to remember many aspects of those early years, but I can still taste the lye soap placed in my mouth for speaking my language. As you can see, it didn't work."

"Those simple words 'We are sorry' mark an important moment in our nation's history," said Premier [Gary Doer] of Harper's apology. "Action is the only way we can remain true to what was said and felt (Wednesday) in the House of Commons."

"An apology in and of itself will not erase the terrible stain on the honour of the Crown and its history, but it is a start," said [Hugh McFadyen]. "Let it be a call to action to all not just to apologize but to begin to take the actions to ensure the healing of First Nations, Metis and Inuit people."