A growing number of elected and former politicians in the North Island Powell River riding are calling upon the Conservative Party to withdraw their endorsement of Aaron Gunn, and demand he withdraw his candidacy. There were already 19 names in the joint letter when Cortes Currents contacted the two women spearheading this campaign and another 6 were added before this post was finished.

 “This has all happened within the last 48 hours. (Bob Chamberlain) a former Vice President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs sent out the first call  for Gunn to be removed. After that many other chiefs supported the call for him to step down,” explained Arzeena Hamir,  a former Regional Director of Area B  in the Comox Valley Regional District.

 Wendy Morin, a City Councillor from Courtenay, added. “When I saw  the repeated posts of comments that Aaron Gunn has made, particularly  that the experience of residential schools etc was not genocide, that’s what really struck me as really harmful to First Nations communities in our region. Especially since the House of Commons unanimously stated that what happened at the residential schools was genocide and that was from  all parties, including the Conservatives. I thought, wow, this is someone who’s a candidate who’s not even aligned with the previous MPs in the House of Commons.  I just felt that it was really important to show solidarity with the First Nations communities in our region, in the region where Aaron Gun is running.”

Arzeena Hamir:  “As elected and  former elected officials, we just wanted to support First Nations leaders in really emphasizing that call because it’s just an unacceptable viewpoint.” 

Wendy Morin: “We felt that it was important to show leadership on this and  to show that local leaders across all different backgrounds, who don’t always agree with each other or all vote the same way, but on this issue we are very united.” 

Arzeena Hamir: “She and I sat down and crafted the letter and then sent it out for everybody else to sign.” 

Robyn Mawhinney, from ‘Discovery Islands – Mainland Inlets’ was one of the recipients,   “As a Director in the Strathcona Regional District, I know that within the administrative boundaries of the Strathcona Regional District there are 11 First Nations and there are many more First Nations when you look at the entirety of the North Island Powell River riding. I believe that reconciliation is multifaceted and much more than only economic reconciliation. I have grave concerns with our riding being represented by someone who doesn’t appear to take this full spectrum of reconciliation seriously. First Nations Leadership Council and many other First Nations leaders have expressed concerns with Aaron Gunn and I support them.” 

Arzeena Hamir:  “We’re not asking for the Conservatives to not put up  a candidate because everyone has a right to representation, but that candidate obviously was not vetted properly. Apart from his very awful views on First Nations, there’s just a long list of very disturbing comments that this person has made.  We don’t believe that people like that should take the platform of a candidate.”

“I think many people who just vote Conservative normally,  don’t even realize what he stands for. So this part of this letter is to raise that awareness in people so that they know,  and hopefully choose otherwise.” 

 ___________________________________________________

(The joint letter)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 4, 2025

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.

Gunn’s 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.

His statements that ‘residential schools were asked for by Indigenous bands’ and that ‘there was no genocide’, and where he said ‘stop lying to people’, are despicable. These comments are incompatible with a Canada where Reconciliation is a priority and commitment. They also are completely contrary to the unanimous motion in The House of Commons recognizing residential schools as genocide. Further, they create an unsafe environment for the constituents Gunn would be representing. These statements have been denounced by First Nations leaders including Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs and The First Nations Leadership Council.

These disturbing comments are in addition to harmful comments made about LGBTQ rights, as well as threats to Canadian sovereignty through his support for Vladimir Putin and Elon Musk.

We stand in solidarity with First Nations peoples across Canada. 

We urge the CPC to act on this letter immediately.

Signed,

1. Wendy Morin, Councillor, City of Courtenay
2. Arzeena Hamir, Director & Vice Chair, Comox Valley Regional District 2018-2022
3. Mark Vonesch, Regional Director, Cortes Island, Strathcona Regional District 
4. Robyn Mawhinney, Regional Director, Discovery Islands and Mainland Inlets, Strathcona Regional District 
5. Evan Jolicoeur, Councillor, City of Courtenay
6. Will Cole-Hamilton, Councillor, City of Courtenay
7. Melanie McCollum, Councillor, City of Courtenay
8. Bob Wells, Mayor, City of Courtenay 
9. Jonathan Kerr, Councillor, Town of Comox
10. Doug Hillian, Councillor, City of Courtenay
11. Chief Kevin Peacey, Klahoose First Nation
12. Troy Therrien, Councillor, Village of Cumberland 
13. Sean Sullivan, Councillor, Village of Cumberland 
14. Vickey Brown, Mayor, Village of Cumberland
15. Gordon Wilson, former MLA, Powell River/Sunshine Coast, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs
16. Sarah Fowler, Councillor/ Deputy Mayor, Village of Tahsis. 
17. Trina Isakson, Councillor, City of Powell River
18. Cindy Elliott, Councillor, City of Powell River
19. CaroleAnn Leishman, former City Councillor, City of Powell River
20. Chief Darren Blaney Homalco Nation
21. Martin Davis, Mayor, Village of Tahsis
22. Julie Colborne, Mayor, Village of Zeballos
23. Jennifer Meilleur, Councillor, Town of Comox
24. Paul Ives, Mayor, Town of Comox, 2008-2018
25. Pat Corbett-Labatt, Mayor, District of Port Hardy
26. Dennis Dugas, Councillor, District of Port Hardy (former mayor 2018-2022)
27. Fred Robertson, Councillor, District of Port Hardy
28. Karen Skadsheim, former City Councillor, City of Powell River
29. Rachel Blaney, former MP, North Island-Powell River 
30. Nick Ward, Councillor, Village of Cumberland
31. Claire Moglove, former City Councillor, City of Campbell River
32. Chris Roberts, Chief, Wei Wai Kum First Nation
33. Rande Cook, Hereditary Chief Mak’wala, Ma’amtagila First Nation
34. David Knox, Hereditary Chief Kwakiutl First Nation 
35. Victor Isaac Chief ‘Namgis First Nation
36. Donald Svanvik Hereditary Chief ‘Namgis 
37. Nicole Rempel, Chief, K’omoks First Nation
38. Jordan Michael Tyee Ha’wiilth, Chief of Nuchatlaht First Nation
39. Chief K̓wak̓waba̱las, Ernest Alfred, Elected ‘Na̱mg̱is Council
40. Mary Ashley, former mayor of Campbell River
41. Melissa Jack, Nuchatlaht Nation Councillor
42. Danielle Shaw, Chief Councillor Wuikinuxv Nation 
43. Jennifer Walkus, Councillor Wuikinuxv Nation
44. Miranda May, Councillor Wuikinuxv Nation
45. Nicholas Simons, former MLA, Powell River-Sunshine Coast (2005-2024)
46. Coral Mackay, former Councillor, K’ómoks First Nation
47. Jake Smith, Hereditary Chief Sixwakola, Mamalilikulla First Nation & Siwiti, Liǧʷiɫdax̌ʷ
48. Shirley Ackland, former Mayor, Port McNeill
49. Candace Newman, Councillor, K’ómoks First Nation
50. Charles Willie, Traditional Leader k̕wamax̱alas Dzawada’enuxw First Nation & Kwexołn’egedzi Kwicksutaineuk Haxwamis First Nation
51. Walter George, Pa̱ngwidi, Hereditary Chief, ‘Nakwaxda’xw
52. William Wasden/Waxawidi, Hereditary Chief, ‘Namgis
53. Paddy Walkus, ‘Max̱wa, Hereditary Chief, ‘Nakwaxda’xw
54. Buddy Walkus K̓odi /Gixistalisa̱me’, Hereditary Chief, ‘Nakwaxda’xw
55. Johnathon Henderson, Udzistalis, Hereditary Chief, Weiwaikum of Ligwełdaxw
56. Michael George, Pudłidaga̱me’, Herditary Chief, ‘Nakwaxda’xw
57. Gary Walkus, Siwidi, Hereditary Chief, Gwa’sala
58. Michele Babchuk, MLA North Island 2020-2024
59. Emily White, former Councillor, Klahoose First Nation
60. Brenda Lenahan, Councillor, Village of Tahsis
61. Shannon Aldinger, School Trustee (City of Courtenay) 
62. John Powell, Elected Chief Councillor of Mamalilikulla First Nation

Links of Interest:

• First Nation Leaders Call Upon Conservative Party To Drop Aaron Gunn As A Candidate – Cortes Currents
• Former vice chief of UBCIC wants Conservative candidate removed – APTN News
• ‘Unsavoury Denialism’: First Nations Leaders Want Conservative Candidate Dropped – The Tyee
• Chief Darren Blaney: Responses To The Conservative Party – Homalco Nation press release

Top image credit: Comox – Photo by Frugal Flyer on Unsplash; photos of Cortes Island and Powell River by Roy L Hales

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