And he "deftly" starved groups of indigenous people, whom he referred to as "savages", and took children away from their parents (why does that sound familiar just now ) in accomplishing his goals, which are a couple of the reasons why the statue is being taken down. I don't agree with trying to whitewash history, but all aspects of it should be remembered. I'll await to see what is written on the plaque intended to replace the statue.
He's a perfect symbol of Canada and its long history, encapsulated in one man, the good the bad, always a work in progress.
Colonial-era Canada also had slavery until the 1800's, the vast majority being aboriginals holding other aboriginals as slaves as they had done for millennia.