Poilievre defends candidate accused of denying residential schools history [Video]

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Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is standing by a candidate in British Columbia, even as calls mount among various Indigenous leaders for the nominee to resign, accusing Aaron Gunn of denying the history of residential schools.

“He’s not denied the impact of residential schools, that’s just misinformation,” Poilievre told reporters Saturday when asked about his support for Gunn, the candidate for North Island-Powell River.

“In fact, he has said that he wants to continue to condemn the residential schools and build stronger partnerships with First Nations people to unlock our resources, so that we can produce incredible paycheques and opportunities for First Nations communities right across British Columbia.”

Earlier this week, regional chief of the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations Terry Teegee accused Gunn of making past comments, calling them “reprehensible.”

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