Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre pitched First Nations leaders with what he called “practical, doable” solutions to create economic prosperity on Tuesday, but also reiterated his concerns with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples’ potential impact on resource development.
“The Conservative Party supports the goals and aspirations of UNDRIP,” Poilievre said during a moderated virtual forum with the Assembly of First Nations (AFN).
“But we are concerned that going ahead with the legislation that has been passed before we had the common understanding of what free prior and informed consent meant in law raises some questions.”
UNDRIP is a human rights instrument that acknowledges Indigenous Peoples have the right to give or withhold consent for projects that impact them. The Conservatives have opposed this policy as a “veto,” while the Liberals passed legislation in 2021 requiring federal laws be harmonized with UNDRIP.
AFN, an advocacy organization for chiefs countrywide, is holding virtual forums with party leaders ahead of the general election April 28. Green Party Co-Leaders Elizabeth May and Jonathan Pedneault appeared in a session April 14 and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh will address the forum Wednesday.
Poilievre earlier on Tuesday released his federal election platform, where the first mention of Indigenous Peoples comes after a promise to “get projects built again by repealing the Liberal anti-development laws” passed over the last decade.
“We’ll also work with Indigenous partners to process and sell our clean natural resources to get foreign countries off burning higher-emission fuels and fight climate change,” the platform says.
Other Conservative promises include introducing an optional First Nations Resource Charge, creating a new Indigenous Opportunities Corporation and creating an Indigenous Outcomes Fund.
Poilievre told the AFN a Conservative government, if elected, would introduce a new bill to provide First Nations with clean water, recognizing this is a legal obligation following a Federal Court-approved class-action settlement.
“Conservatives recognize the lack of safe water for First Nations communities is a national shame and has been going on for far too long,” he said.
He also promised to reduce bureaucratic red tape for on-reserve infrastructure funding and support the continued implementation of Jordan’s Principle.
Sidesteps question on UNDRIP
UNDRIP, however, was a sticking point.
Poilievre hasn’t said whether he considers the Liberals’ UNDRIP Act to be among the “anti-development laws” he wants to repeal, but he did vote against it and told the House of Commons he was proud to oppose it.
He sidestepped again on Tuesday when asked directly if a Conservative government would fully implement the law.
“We will continue to work to enhance First Nations rights,” he said.
“We believe that First Nations have Indigenous rights that are represented by the Charter and that need to be upheld.”
The Liberal platform says it would implement the UNDRIP law’s action plan, while the NDP promises to honour the standard of free, prior and informed consent.
The Conservative platform does promise to establish a nation-to-nation consultation process for major legislation and projects directly impacting First Nations, Inuit and Metis. Poilievre also told the assembly a Conservative government would include First Nations around the table in the trade conflict with the United States.
“We will ensure that all of the rights, the treaties, the self-government agreements and the constitutional guarantees for the Indigenous people of Canada are protected and safeguarded,” he said.
Defends candidate Aaron Gunn
One thing the Conservative Party’s platform does not mention is the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action. In 2008, Poilievre was forced to apologize after suggesting residential school survivors needed a better work ethic, rather than more compensation money.
Poilievre was asked again Tuesday to denounce British Columbia Conservative candidate Aaron Gunn, whom First Nations leaders have criticized for social media posts that said residential schools “were asked for by Indigenous bands” and did not constitute genocide, but the leader stood firm.
“I have sought clarification and Mr. Gunn does acknowledge the atrocity of residential schools and the very real and harmful impact they have had,” he said.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre addresses delegates and chiefs at the Assembly of First Nations meeting in Montreal, speaking about the relationship he hopes a Conservative government would have with First Nations if he were to become prime minister.
Since becoming leader, Poilievre has courted First Nations voters in ways his immediate predecessors haven’t. He spoke before the AFN’s annual summer meeting in person in July 2024, for instance — something Erin O’Toole and Andrew Scheer never did as Tory leader.
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