Economic reconciliation or political opportunism? BC Conservatives under fire on Orange Shirt Day
The leader of the BC Conservative Party pledged to build bridges and promote economic reconciliation with First Nations on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a move Indigenous leaders slammed as “political opportunism.”
Flanked by Indigenous candidates and supporters on the shores of Cultus Lake in Chilliwack, John Rustad committed to providing clean water and housing on reserves and “going after” the federal government for costs, looking at a loan guarantee program, and turning over land.
“We are going to be looking at land strategically in terms of returning First Nations to unleash economic potential,” he said, using forestry as an example. “A key piece of that is the First Nations will be the landlords of that land – it will not be land that receives a double stumpage.”
Rustad struck a different tone this year than he did last year, when he ignited a firestorm of controversy after tweeting that Orange Shirt Day is a day to remember “what happens when the Canadian government thinks it's better at raising children than parents,” comparing residential schools to SOGI educational resources.
The former Liberal Indigenous affairs minister said government actions like the Sixties Scoop “had disastrous impacts both on First Nations people but particularly on families and individuals,” and committed to a closer relationship, should he form government after October’s election.
“It is high time First Nations have that opportunity to be able to engage economically, to be able to succeed and by doing that unleashing the full potential for all people in British Columbia – Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike,” Rustad said.
He did not take questions from reporters.
B.C. chiefs slam Rustad
Before Rustad outlined his vision for economic reconciliation, the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs issued a public statement raising concerns about BC Conservative candidates questioning the stories of residential school survivors.
The president of the organization said he was deeply offended to see Rustad making a policy announcement on such a solemn national holiday.
“It’s political opportunism at its worst,” said Grand Chief Stewart Philip.
“When I heard about Mr. Rustad’s statement today, my first thought was ‘plagiarism,’” he went on to say. “How bizarre is it that he’s trotting out Premier Eby’s plans for the future that we’re (already) part of?”
Philip praised the NDP governments of David Eby and John Horgan for not only passing Canada’s first legislation in support of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, but for establishing deep and meaningful relationship that have already benefited and improved First Nations communities.
He described Rustad as flip-flopping on UNDRIP – voting in favour of it while a BC Liberal, and now seeking to revoke it.
“The man speaks out of both sides of his mouth,” Philip said. “We want continuity, we want to continue to work with a government that’s stable, it’s focussed, and most importantly it’s committed to what DRIPA and the UN Declaration Act represents for all British Columbians in terms of coming together and working together.”
Philip's wife, Joan Philip, was elected as an MLA in a byelection last year, but other senior leaders in the UBCIC have spoken out with similar concerns.
Indigenous candidates stand by Rustad
While some of his candidates have come under fire, Rustad does have support within the First Nations community and two Indigenous Conservative candidates were with him on Monday.
“Both healing and change has not been easy and I know in our communities there’s a lot more work to do before we continue our journey taking the exciting and massive steps towards reconciliation,” said A’aliya Warbus, who’s running in the riding of Chilliwack-Cultus Lake.
Rustad appeared emotional as he told attendees the life expectancy of Indigenous British Columbians has dropped, and later committed to on-reserve drug treatment and supports.
“I’ve been that kid watching your kids pick between the lights and food,” said Chris Sankey, North Coast-Haida Gwaii Conservative candidate, who described himself as a residential school survivor.
He voiced his support for Rustad’s economic reconciliation vision.
“It’s about time we took our rightful place to be a part of Canada and not apart from Canada,” said Sankey. “It’s taken us so long to get here."
The other leaders on Orange Shirt Day
NDP Leader David Eby attended UBC's Truth and Reconciliation Day events in his riding with his family, where he listened to residential school survivors but did not address attendees himself.
Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau made a brief statement in Victoria reflecting on the dark history of residential schools and reiterating her support of survivors and advocating for more Indigenous leadership and representation in B.C., before attending the South Island powwow in Victoria.
"We acknowledge how intergenerational trauma still impacts far too many people today," she said. "These harms, this trauma, the terrible statistics are all the result of policy choices by governments. The policy choices we make today can either reconcile this history and steer us away from this pattern, or entrench denial and continue to deliver harm."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian family stuck in Lebanon anxiously awaits flight options amid Israeli strikes
A Canadian man who is trapped in Lebanon with his family says they are anxiously waiting for seats on a flight out of the country, as a barrage of Israeli airstrikes continues.
Yazidi woman captured by ISIS rescued in Gaza after more than a decade in captivity
A 21-year-old Yazidi woman has been rescued from Gaza where she had been held captive by Hamas for years after being trafficked by ISIS.
Scientists looked at images from space to see how fast Antarctica is turning green. Here's what they found
Parts of icy Antarctica are turning green with plant life at an alarming rate as the region is gripped by extreme heat events, according to new research, sparking concerns about the changing landscape on this vast continent.
Suspect in shooting of Toronto cop was out on bail
A 21-year-old man who was charged with attempted murder in the shooting of a Toronto police officer this week was out on bail at the time of the alleged offence, court documents obtained by CTV News Toronto show.
A 6-year-old girl was kidnapped in Arkansas in 1995. Almost 30 years later, a suspect was identified
Nearly 30 years after a six-year-old girl disappeared in Western Arkansas, authorities have identified a suspect in her abduction through DNA evidence.
A Michigan man is charged with killing and dismembering a janitor he met on the Grindr dating app
Prosecutors have charged a Michigan man with killing and dismembering a janitor he met on the dating app Grindr.
NEW Youth pleads guilty to manslaughter in death of P.E.I. teen Tyson MacDonald
A teen charged with the murder of another teen on Prince Edward Island last year has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter.
Haitian gang kills at least 70 people, including 3 infants, UN says
Armed men belonging to the Gran Grif gang killed at least 70 people, including three infants, as they swept through a Haitian town shooting automatic rifles at residents, a spokesperson for the United Nations' Human Rights Office said on Friday.
WATCH LIVE 2 dead after fire rips through historic building in Old Montreal
At least two people are dead and others are injured after a fire ripped through a century-old building near Montreal's City Hall, sources told Noovo Info.