A statement by CBC journalist Rosemary Barton claiming “remains of indigenous children” were found at former residential school sites has ignited a firestorm of criticism, leading to a rare correction from the state broadcaster.
During a live broadcast on April 16, Barton referenced the 2021 social panic over potential unmarked graves, asserting remains had been discovered across Canada. She also accused Rebel News of spreading “misinformation” during coverage of the Leaders’ Debates.
The claim drew swift backlash, as no human remains have been conclusively exhumed or identified from these sites, despite ground-penetrating radar suggesting possible graves.
The CBC/Radio-Canada received $1.4 billion in government funding for the 2024-25 fiscal year, including a $42 million top-up in the 2024 budget to address financial pressures.
Critics, including Rebel News founder Ezra Levant and social media users on X, accused Barton of perpetuating a false narrative. Levant called the statement “a lie,” highlighting the irony of Barton’s misinformation accusation against his outlet.
The controversy amplified tensions around the sensitive issue of residential school investigations and media accountability — particularly involving the former Kamloops Indian Residential School.
The CBC issued a correction under its “Corrections and Clarifications” section. The broadcaster clarified that while investigations into potential unmarked graves continue, no remains have been confirmed.
The correction did little to silence critics, who argued the initial claim damaged trust in journalism. The incident also spotlighted a broader feud between CBC and Rebel News, with the latter’s reporter Drea Humphrey singled out by Barton.
Posts on X demanded evidence, such as names of children allegedly found, underscoring public skepticism.
Kevin Annett, a controversial former minister, has made unverified claims about the abuse and murder of indigenous children at the Kamloops Indian Residential School.
In his 2001 book, Hidden from History: The Canadian Holocaust, Annett alleges the school, operated by the Catholic Church, was a site of systematic genocide, including mass murders and burials of children in unmarked graves.
He claims indigenous children across Canada died due to deliberate starvation, torture, and medical experiments, citing oral testimonies from survivors.