Conservative Party of Canada Leader Pierre Poilievre's statement of support for an embattled Vancouver Island candidate during a press conference in Osoyoos on April 5 has drawn flack from the Similkameen-South Okanagan-West Kootenay's NDP candidate. 

The candidate, Aaron Gunn, is facing controversy over posts he made to social media that complain about the "sensationalization" of the residential school system and state there was no genocide against the Indigenous people, despite the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission finding residential schools to be part of a 乌鸦传媒渃ultural genocide.乌鸦传媒�

During the conference, Poilievre was presented with a letter that was sent to the party by "local mayors [who] have said they don't support him" containing criticisms of Gunn. 

Poilievre called the letter false and said that Gunn's denying the impact of residential schools is "misinformation."

"[Gunn] said that he wants to continue to condemn the residential schools and build stronger partnerships with First Nations people to unlock our resources," said Poilievre. "We can produce incredible paychecks and opportunities for First Nations communities right across British Columbia, bring home production of natural gas and other major resource projects and in fact, bring in a First Nations resource charge that allows companies to pay those taxes directly to these communities so that they can have incredible prosperity."

Gunn had previously been an MLA candidate for the Liberal party in the 2021 provincial election, but was kicked out because of problematic posts on X (formerly Twitter).

Similkameen-South Okanagan-West Kootenay NDP candidate Linda Sankey, whose riding contains Osoyoos, issued a statement later that day condemning Poilievre's statement and Gunn's candidacy. 

"However, it was troubling to see Pierre Poilievre and our [Conservative] candidate, Helena Konanz stand together and say they continue to back Aaron Gunn, their candidate, who has repeatedly minimized the history and trauma caused by residential schools, attacked 2SLGBTQ+ people and sympathized with Putin," wrote Sankey. "Poilievre乌鸦传媒檚 slogans may help him fill a room, but his actions, and support of Gunn, don乌鸦传媒檛 truly represent this community."

The Conservative party had dropped at least six candidates prior to registration with Elections Canada closing on April 7. The Liberal Party of Canada had removed at least three. 

No NDP candidates have been removed as of April 8.

With files from Bowen Assman, Vernon Morning Star.