B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad is under pressure to condemn remarks made by a staff member in his caucus who criticized the Survivors’ flag as a “disgrace” and a “fake flag.” The incident occurred after the flag was raised at the legislature in Victoria by several NDP, Conservative, and Green MLAs ahead of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
In a social media post that was later deleted, Lindsay Shepherd, a communications staffer for the B.C. Conservative caucus, expressed skepticism about Canadian history, including the discovery of children’s graves in Kamloops, and criticized the presence of the Survivors’ flag and Orange Shirt at the provincial parliament buildings.
Following the incident, NDP MLA Rohini Arora called for accountability and urged B.C. Conservative MLAs to denounce such statements that deny the harsh realities of residential schools. While attempts to reach Rustad and Shepherd for comments were unsuccessful, Conservative MLA Scott McInnis emphasized the party’s support for Residential School survivors and the importance of Truth and Reconciliation.
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip and former B.C. Green MLA Adam Olsen strongly condemned the comments made by Shepherd, expressing shock and labeling them as ignorant and vile. Concerns were also raised about Rustad’s stance on Indigenous reconciliation, particularly regarding the repeal of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act and conflicting statements on Indigenous title.
The situation echoes a previous incident where another individual was expelled from the Conservative caucus for comments deemed disrespectful towards former residential school students. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada has documented the deaths of over 4,100 children in these schools due to various causes, highlighting the traumatic experiences endured by Indigenous children.
The controversy underscores the ongoing challenges in addressing the legacy of residential schools and the importance of respectful dialogue and understanding in the pursuit of reconciliation.