Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he is "deeply disappointed" by the toppling of the statue of Canada's first prime minister over the weekend.
He called the act "vandalism".
Activists in Montreal pulled down the statue of Sir John A Macdonald, who was linked to policies that killed many indigenous people in the late 19th Century.
Video captured the moment the statue's head flew off and bounced on to the pavement nearby.
On Monday, Mr Trudeau said that, while he understands the "impatience and frustration" of Canadians who have dealt with discrimination, acts like pulling down the statue "will not move us ahead as a society".
He said it should be up to communities and cities to choose how to remember controversial historical figures, not a small group acting unilaterally.
The premier of Quebec and the mayor of Montreal also condemned the action by activists.
Mayor Valérie Plante said it "cannot be accepted nor tolerated", adding it is better to put historical figures "in context rather than remove them".
Quebec Premier François Legault wrote on Twitter, "whatever one might think of Sir John A MacDonald, destroying a monument in this way is unacceptable".
"We must fight racism, but destroying parts of our history is not the solution. Vandalism has no place in our democracy and the statue must be restored."
The statue has been a frequent target for activists over the years, and has often been covered in splashes of paint.
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