Various organizations, such as the First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC), have called for the Conservative Party of Canada to replace Aaron Gunn, the North Island鈥擯owell River candidate, after Gunn's social media posts became viral.
Candidates for the riding have added their voices regarding Gunn and his social media posts.
Tanille Johnston, the NDP's candidate, described April 3 as "heavy."
"Like so many of you, I felt overwhelmed watching hate and harmful rhetoric echo across our screens. Giving airtime to racism鈥攅specially from a candidate running to be a Member of Parliament鈥攊s not how we move forward. His words don鈥檛 reflect who we are in North Island鈥揚owell River," she said. "Residential Schools happened. Indian Hospitals happened. Genocide happened in Canada. These truths matter.
"Here in our riding, we believe survivors."
The NDP issued an official statement on April 4, which included comments from Johnston.
鈥淧oilievre鈥檚 support and continued backing of Gunn in light of everything he's doing speaks volumes,鈥� added, Tanille Johnston, NDP candidate for North Island - Powell River. 鈥淐onservatives can鈥檛 claim to support reconciliation while investing in candidates who spread, hate, harm, and division. Gunn鈥檚 extremism has no place in our communities 鈥� nor Canada鈥檚 Federal Government.鈥�
The Green Party of Canada also asked for his removal in a statement.
鈥淚ntolerance has no place in our democracy,鈥� said co-leader Green Party Elizabeth May. 鈥淚 stand with our First Nations in demanding that the Conservative Party drop Aaron Gunn from the ballot. In posts he praises Elon Musk, the right-wing Liberal Party of B.C. rejected him. How can the federal Conservatives stand by this Trump-like candidate?鈥�
Jessica Wegg, the candidate for the Green Party, made a separate statement to the Mirror.
"Mr. Gunn's social media posts reflect a world view that I believe most people in Canada would find abhorrent. I certainly do. I find it deeply concerning that the Conservative Party鈥檚 vetting process has supported Mr. Gunn鈥檚 candidacy even though his racism, misogyny, and hateful views have been on open display for many years. I believe such overt divisiveness and hatred have no place in politics in Canada, and I hope the Conservative Party will see the necessity of holding him accountable as their representative. Unless of course - he is actually a true reflection of who the Conservative Party of Canada have become. We deserve better," she said.
Jennifer Lash, of the Liberal Party, sent a statement to the Campbell River Mirror on April 4.
鈥淲hat makes our communities resilient is our ability to come together and help each other. I see this every day in my community of Sointula and I hear about it as I travel throughout this riding. Unfortunately, the populist rhetoric from Aaron Gunn risks tearing at the threads that tie our communities together at the very time we are facing threats to our economy and our sovereignty from Donald Trump."
She says voters have expressed concern to her over Gunn's comments, calling them a pattern of hateful and extremist rhetoric.
鈥淓veryone says regrettable things when they鈥檙e young 鈥� but Aaron鈥檚 comments reveal a dangerous pattern. Time and again, he has chosen to align himself with populists, weakening our society and distracting from the real issues,鈥� said Lash.
"Gunn鈥檚 statements, including his admiration for Russian leader Putin鈥攚hom Gunn has called 'incredibly intelligent,'鈥攅cho Donald Trump and the U.S. far-right movement. North Island鈥揚owell River cannot afford to be infected with the same chaos and instability we鈥檙e seeing south of the border."
Paul Macknight, the People's Party of Canada's choice for the riding, said he's more focused on his own campaign and the party's message.
"Each candidate will run their own campaign as they see fit. We make mistakes. Say it wrong at times. Be wrong at others," he offered. "I believe that we are the answer to the establishment parties who have each allowed our Canada to be worse with each passing election. I鈥檓 tired of it personally."
Gunn posted his own statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, on April 3.
"I have always been firm in recognizing the truly horrific events that transpired in residential schools, and any attempt to suggest otherwise is simply false. I have never wavered in condemning these institutions of abuse, where countless First Nations suffered at the hands of a patronizing federal government. I have never wavered in condemning the theft of children from their families, or the forced destruction of Indigenous language, culture and traditions.
"Not only have I repeatedly denounced what happened at residential schools, through my documentaries I have also interviewed more than two dozen Indigenous leaders on the importance of economic reconciliation with First Nations while also highlighting the disproportionate impact the addictions crisis has had on their communities."
A letter signed by present and past elected officials has been circulating online. The letter calls for the removal of Gunn.
"We, the undersigned elected and former elected officials, call on the Conservative Party of Canada to withdraw their endorsement of Aaron Gunn, candidate for the North Island-Powell River riding, and demand that he withdraw his candidacy," reads the letter. "Gunn鈥檚 statements denying the impacts of residential schools and the generational trauma and genocide experienced by First Nations peoples in Canada are unacceptable. These views and statements are particularly concerning and harmful in a riding with large numbers of First Nations constituents."
As of the time of writing, the letter has 19 signatures. This includes Courtenay Mayor Bob Wells, Cumberland Mayor Vickey Brown, Tashsis Deputy Mayor Sarah Fowler, Chief Kevin Peacey of the Klahoose First Nation, as well as several councillors of Courtenay, Powell River, Comox, Cumberland and two SRD directors.
