Fallout continues from B.C. Conservative MLA’s residential school comments

B.C. Conservative MLA Dallas Brodie is under fire – again – for comments about the “truth” and residential schools.

Emotions boiled over among members of the B.C. Conservatives on Thursday, as fallout continued over MLA Dallas Brodie’s comments on residential schools.

Following the party’s morning caucus meeting, house leader A’Aliya Warbus, the only Indigenous woman in the Opposition ranks, expressed her ongoing frustration over her colleague’s conduct.

“We need to address the division within the caucus and get on the same page as a team,” Warbus said. “If we cannot do that, then I do not know why I came here and sacrificed my time to be a political representative.”

The rift was triggered last month when Brodie posted on X, formerly Twitter, that “zero” child burials had been confirmed at the Kamloops Indian Residential School. She also questioned the “apparent mistreatment” of a lawyer who had asked for the rewording of Law Society training material about residential schools.

“That’s what she wants to go marching out to stand for?” Warbus said, calling Brodie’s priorities “abhorrent.”

Brodie has since doubled down in an online video, in which she also appeared to single out Warbus as “super angry,” and accused colleagues of directing the “most vociferous hatred” at her over her views.

In another part of the 12-minute video, she remarks: “This whole thing about my truth and your truth, this whole thing has to stop. It’s gotta be the truth.”

Contacted for comment on Thursday, Brodie told CTV News, “I think my video speaks for itself.”

Fellow Conservative MLA Elenore Sturko said she’s not happy about the dispute, or the comments in the video.

“We’re taking it really seriously,” Sturko said Thursday. “I found those posts, the video, I find it really hurtful.”

Party leader John Rustad said he hasn’t asked Brodie to remove the video, and wouldn’t say if she could be kicked out of caucus or disciplined.

“I don’t support any of our members going out and attacking any of our members,” he told reporters Thursday.

Rustad also attempted to balance competing views in what he calls a big tent party.

“What went on in residential schools, with the fact that 4,000 children didn’t come home across Canada, is absolutely horrendous,” he said.

He also said Brodie “came out with some facts with regards to burial sites, and the fact that nothing had been found on those sites,” but added that it “doesn’t take away from the pain associated with residential schools.”

Premier David Eby was quick to condemn the comments in the video, mocking Rustad’s big tent as a “circus tent.”

“He’s gotta kick the clown out of the tent, and if he doesn’t do that then I think we know exactly what kind of a leader he is,” said Eby, speaking at an unrelated event.

Political watchers said it could prove to be a significant challenge for Rustad to keep all members of his party together, especially given his pledge to allow for free speech and free votes.

“This will continue to fester in his party until one faction or another quits,” said Hamish Telford, associate professor of political science at the University of the Fraser Valley.

With files from The Canadian Press