BC’s newest political party, OneBC, came into the spotlight this week after their leader tried to host a public, unsanctioned event at UVic.
The public speaking event focused on denying the existence of 215+ unmarked graves at the Kamloops Residential School, and refuting the fact that what was done to Indigenous Peoples in Canada qualifies as a form of genocide.
There, over 100 protesters were waiting for OneBC leader and MLA for Vancouver-Quilchena Dallas Brodie, who showed up alongside her supporters and special guest speakers.
As a result of this unsanctioned event, one of Brodie’s speakers was arrested, the group were escorted from campus and Brodie herself was told never to return.
Related:
- Residential school denialist plans unsanctioned speech at UVic (UPDATED)
- ‘Healing from harms caused’: UVic acting president condemns chaotic OneBC event
Since this went down on Tuesday, December 2nd, Brodie has launched a petition to have the BC government immediately defund UVic.
On Wednesday, December 3rd, Brodie spoke in the Legislative Assembly of BC to this point, calling on Premier Eby to defund the university immediately.
Brodie claimed that she and Frances Widdowson, a former professor who was fired for her publicly disputed views, went to UVic to speak out about the unmarked graves in Kamloops.
She expressed outrage over what she believes to be a lie perpetuated by UVic faculty, staff and students.
“If I were the premier I would defund UVic today,” she said.
“So that’s my question Mr. Premier, will the premier immediately suspend funding to the University of Victoria to end this anti-Canadian indoctrination.”
Eby expressed his disdain for Brodie’s conduct following this confrontation.
“The continued misconduct of this member and her associates is troubling to me, I’m sure it’s troubling to every member of this house,” said Premier Eby.
He went on by saying “Her conduct is reprehensible, it is embarrassing, it degrades the public’s opinion of every elected member in this house and I wish she would stop it.
Though defunding UVic is the latest crusade being taken on by Brodie and her party, it is not the only one.
There are four other petitions that are live on OneBC’s website, though some of the links are currently broken.
The most notable of these is a petition to have BC “Repeal Truth and Reconciliation Day.”
In a previous Legislative Assembly question period, she spoke to this petition’s merits by saying National Day for Truth and Reconciliation does not deserve to be a holiday.
“This day celebrates the greatest lie in Canadian history—the lie that 215 bodies were found at the Kamloops Indian Residential School,” claimed Brodie
“The reality is, this country has never committed a genocide. This country seeks to shame Canadians for building a civilization, for building Canada instead of leaving it as an untamed wilderness.”
She added that she believes Canadians should have no regrets, nothing to reconcile for and no apologies to give.
Spencer Chandra Herbert, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, told Victoria Buzz he finds this rhetoric disturbing.
“It seems that every other day we have opposition MLAs competing for who can put out the most divisive, and rage-baiting motion, amendment, or statement targeting First Nations people in this province,” said Herbert.
“It is deeply saddening to see opposition MLAs introducing harmful legislation and voting against the human rights of Indigenous Peoples and continuing to promote division at a time we should be coming together.”
Herbert added that it is known and proven that many children did not come home from residential schools, with many dying from tuberculosis, starving, drowning or abuse.
“That’s the truth,” continued Herbert.
“We know they were taken from their families without permission. We know that they were harmed, they were hit if they dared to speak their own language, or if they dared to practice their own cultural traditions.”
Herbert concluded by saying that despite OneBC’s divisive and harmful rhetoric, the BC NDP government will push forward with reconciliation work.
In addition to the petitions about defunding UVic and repealing National Truth and Reconciliation Day, OneBC also has a “Protect Property Rights from Aboriginal Title” petition, an “End Child Gender Transitions” and a “Defend Religious Freedom.”
It is important to note that the petition on defending religious freedom only speaks to Christianity.
Brodie is OneBC’s leader, but is not the only MLA who has joined the party. Tara Armstrong (Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream) also came on board with OneBC, joining out of solidarity with Brodie after she had been kicked out of the BC Conservatives for having radical views.
Victoria Buzz reached out to OneBC for comment on their platform, policies and petitions, but as of this publication, have not received a response.
