Statement from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Ottawa, ON – The Hon. Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and the Official Opposition, released the following statement on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation:
“For centuries, First Nations, Métis and Inuit have passed down traditions, culture and the stories of their peoples, binding generations together.
“The Residential School system – a product of a big government, ‘Ottawa-knows-best’ approach – led to horror and heartbreak. That abuse of state power tore families apart, silenced languages and shattered lives.
“True reconciliation is about restoring control to Indigenous peoples over their own lives – control that should always have been theirs – and partnering to deliver real results.
“Working side by side, we will end the government overreach resulting in horrors like the Residential School system. We will acknowledge the survivors and pursue reconciliation, including economic reconciliation: unlocking responsible resource development with willing Indigenous partners, creating good-paying jobs, building revenue for communities and protecting firearms rights needed for hunting and traditional ways of life.
“On the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we commit to healing historical wrongs by unleashing opportunities for all Indigenous peoples as true partners in prosperity.”