Sorry seems to be the easiest word – vocabulary

"Sorry seems to be the easiest word" – a re-working of the phrase "Sorry seems to be the hardest word".
"Where will such gestures end?" A rhetorical question suggesting this is an action which will have endless consequences, in this case with many other injured parties also asking for apologies.
roughly – about, approximately
spouses – wives and husbands
seek redress – formal – ask for money in compensation for having been injured or treated badly
state-sanctioned – given approval or permission, especially formal or legal, by a country or its government
to be denied entry (into) – to be refused permission to enter
leprosy – an infectious disease that damages a person’s nerves and skin
interned – imprisoned for political or military reasons, especially during a war
descent – family background
columnist – journalist who writes a column in a newspaper or magazine
to argue – to put forward reasons
it is way past time for ….. to – it is long past the time when something should have happened, some action is overdue
grossest – most blatant
a narrative of oppressors and oppressed – a long story of persecutors and their victims
under pressure to – being urged to
acknowledge – recognise
historic grievances – complaints that go back in history
compensation – an award (usually financial) made to someone who has suffered injury or loss
reluctant to – unwilling to
open the floodgates – release a torrent of similar requests
take the same approach – adopt the same stance
successor – ie the next Prime Minister
open to – receptive to
to alienate – to disaffect
potential voters – people who may vote in the future
the Commons – the lower house of representatives in the Canadian Parliament
methodical – systematic
in appealing to – seeking to satisfy
federal – (relating to Canada) relating to the central state as opposed to the individual states that make up the nation