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 and Orange Shirt Day:
“Today, we remember the brave survivors of Canada’s residential schools who defiantly continue to live out their cultural traditions, and we remember those who did not make it home.
“We remember the dark history of excessive government overreach that brought lasting suffering to First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities. Overpowering government attacked your ways of life, targeted your culture for destruction and denied your rights and freedoms.
“On National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we learn from the past and forge ahead to the future. We must end the ‘Ottawa-knows-best’, top-down, paternalistic approach that serves only bureaucrats, politicians and lobbyists. Government control is the problem. Not the solution.
“Indigenous peoples must have the freedom to determine their futures, preserve their languages, develop their resources, use their talents and celebrate their cultures.
“Through a new approach and through the unmatched resilience of Indigenous people, Canada can achieve reconciliation and a brighter future for all.”