B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad is under pressure to condemn a statement made by a member of his team regarding the Survivors’ flag, a symbol honoring survivors of residential schools. The incident unfolded when various NDP, Conservative, and Green MLAs joined in raising the Survivors’ flag at the legislature in Victoria ahead of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30.
The contentious remark was made by Lindsay Shepherd, a communications staff member for the B.C. Conservative caucus, who expressed negative views about the flag and associated historical events on social media. Shepherd’s post, which was later deleted, criticized the significance of the flag and the representation of facts related to Canadian history.
In response to Shepherd’s comments, NDP MLA Rohini Arora emphasized the importance of acknowledging the harsh realities of residential schools and called for action from B.C. Conservative MLAs to address the issue promptly.
Despite attempts to reach Rustad and Shepherd for comments, no responses were obtained. Conservative MLA Scott McInnis, responsible for Indigenous relations and reconciliation within the party, reaffirmed their support for Residential School survivors and the principles of Truth and Reconciliation, highlighting the need to create a positive future for upcoming generations.
The controversial remarks made by Shepherd drew strong criticism from Indigenous leaders, such as Grand Chief Stewart Phillip and former B.C. Green MLA Adam Olsen, who labeled the comments as offensive and damaging to the truthful narrative of the province’s history. Phillip urged Rustad to take decisive action against Shepherd, emphasizing the severity of denying the atrocities of residential schools in the present day.
Furthermore, concerns were raised about Rustad’s stance on Indigenous reconciliation, particularly regarding his opposition to the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) and his views on Indigenous land rights conflicting with private property rights. This comes after Rustad previously expelled Dallas Brodie from the Conservative caucus for insensitive remarks about residential school survivors.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada has documented over 4,100 child deaths at residential schools due to malnourishment or disease, with reports of widespread physical, sexual, and psychological abuse. The discovery of potential burial sites, including the controversial finding of 215 children’s remains in Kamloops, has further underscored the tragic legacy of the residential school system.