Warning: This story deals with shocking subject issue that may disturbed and cause some viewers. Discretion is advised. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is standing by a member in British Columbia, even as calling mount among several Aboriginal leaders for the candidate to withdraw, accusing Aaron Gunn of denying the story of private schools. ” He’s never denied the influence of private schools, that’s really misinformation”, Poilievre told reporters Saturday when asked about his aid for Gunn, the applicant for North Island-Powell River. ” In fact, he has said that he wants to continue to denounce the private schools and develop stronger partnerships with First Nations people to unlock our resources, but that we can produce amazing paycheques and opportunities for First Nations communities straight across British Columbia”.Earlier this week, local chief of the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations Terry Teegee accused Gunn of making history comments, calling them “reprehensible”. ” The responses are reprehensible, particularly to home school survivors”, Teegee said. Among those comments referenced included a picture posted on social media in which Gunn said Canada’s system of private schools did not constitute an act of genocide and that the colleges are “much-maligned”. ” There was no murder. Quit lying to people and read a book”, Gunn wrote in 2020.2: 40
Poilievre spins to Carney’s Foreign business dealings when asked about four Traditional individuals dropping outTeegee said that the group may reduce Gunn as a member for the comments. ” If this is the party that allows denialism sentiments from their ( candidates ), then I don’t think they’re worthy of leading any country or government”, Teegee said. More than 150, 000 Maori children were forced to attend private institutions, the last of which closed in 1996. An estimated 6, 000 babies died in the classrooms, though specialists say the exact amount could be much higher. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which was tasked with investigating the institutions, found they were riddled with abuse, with kids separated from their families and barred from visiting with their families. It concluded the schools were intended for cultural genocide, saying they were” a systematic, government- sponsored attempt to destroy Aboriginal cultures and languages and to assimilate Aboriginal peoples so that they no longer existed as distinct peoples “.Gunn responded to the accusations Thursday night, saying he has “never wavered in condemning these institutions of abuse”. ” I have always been firm in recognizing the truly horrific events that transpired in residential schools, and any attempt to suggest otherwise is simply false”, he said in part. ” I have never wavered in condemning these institutions of abuse, where countless First Nations suffered at the hands of a patronizing federal government “.B. C. Conservative Leader John Rustad and Chris Sankey, a former candidate for the party in the past provincial election, have posted on X, defending Gunn with Sankey calling the accusations “baseless “.Trending Now
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Canada election 2025: Why the Conservatives abruptly dropped 2 candidatesThe former vice-president of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs also called on the party to remove Gunn, referencing various social media posts. Bob ( Galagame ) Chamberlin called the comments “offensive” in a news release. ” When I see someone like Aaron Gunn espousing what I see as racist comments-denialism of the impacts of residential schools on First Nations, it’s appalling, it’s disgusting, it’s offensive”, Chamberlin said. ” I believe that Canadians need to understand that the Conservatives welcome these types of people into their party, and I think the leader needs to be asked does he support these statements “.Even amid the accusations, the Conservative Party said in a statement to the Canadian Press — prior to Poilievre’s statements — that it stood by Gunn, saying he “has been clear in recognizing the truly horrific events that transpired in residential schools “.They add that “any attempt to suggest otherwise is simply false “.The party also pointed to a unanimous consent motion passed in the House of Commons that recognized residential schools as genocide in 2022. Gunn was not a member of Parliament when that motion was passed. While the party appears to be standing by Gunn, it has dropped a number of candidates in recent days when comments they had made came to light. The Liberals have also ousted candidates in the past few days over previous comments. —with files from The Canadian Press&, copy 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
