Conservative party leader Pierre Poilievre defended his decision on Friday to speak to a think tank that has been criticized for comments about residential schools and discrimination.
“We talk to groups all the time that we don’t agree with,” Poilievre said in an interview after his speech at the Frontier Center for Public Policy in Winnipeg.
In 2018, the center ran radio ads, which were soon withdrawn, saying it was a myth that residential schools robbed indigenous children of their childhood.
Last summer, the center posted a comment on its website saying that stories about schoolchildren being secretly killed and buried are highly suspicious, if not completely false. And last month, the center published an article saying that policies against white men represent the only systemic discrimination there is.
Federal Liberal Cabinet Minister Dan Vandal, who represents Winnipeg, accused Poilievre of promoting ideas and organizations that do not represent Winnipeg or Manitoba.
Marc Miller, the federal minister for Crown-Indigenous Relations, also criticized the conservative leader.
“In 2008, Mr. Poilievre rightfully apologized for saying that residential school survivors, many of whom were very old, should learn the value of hard work. Today’s hack calls that apology into question.” said a post on Miller’s Twitter account.
Poilievre said his feelings are clear.
“Obviously I support reconciliation and I think residential schools are an ugly and horrible plague on our country’s history.”
Poilievre also hit back at his opponents, saying Liberal and NDP politicians in the past spoke to the border center.
His staff provided examples, including former federal finance minister Paul Martin giving an interview to the center 21 years ago and former Governor General and Manitoba NDP Premier Ed Schreyer speaking at a center luncheon in 2013, 29 years after who last held public office.
Poilievre also likened the situation to federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh’s support of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s minority government, after Trudeau admitted to wearing black and brownface costumes during his youth.
Border center officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Poilievre’s speech was part of a one-day visit to the Manitoba capital, where a by-election is expected soon to take the South Central Winnipeg seat held by Liberal MP Jim Carr, who died in December.
The seat has a long Liberal tradition, although the Conservatives won it for one term in 2011.
Poilievre said he will campaign on riding and expressed optimism.
“I think the people in Manitoba have suffered enough under Trudeau and they want a change.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on January 13, 2023.