(Ottawa) Pierre Poilievre is expected to attend the next annual general assembly of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) for the first time since he led the Conservative Party.
His spokesperson, Sebastian Skamski, confirmed Tuesday that Mr. Poilievre will attend the AFN general assembly next month in Montreal and will deliver a speech.
Mr. Poilievre is also expected to participate in a question-and-answer session with First Nations leaders, some of whom have already expressed skepticism about his promises of reconciliation with Indigenous people.
The Conservative leader has already met with Indigenous leaders to tell them that as Prime Minister, he would not put obstacles in their way, especially when they want to generate economic growth for their communities.
Her planned participation in the annual general meeting in July in Montreal comes as the newly elected national leader tries to forge connections within this party after tensions with previous conservative governments.
Earlier this year, National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak said she preferred to remain “optimistic” and believe Mr. Poilievre would work with First Nations if he won the next election. She noted that young Indigenous people had been particularly frustrated by Stephen Harper’s governments.
“It’s definitely not the relationship I want,” she said.
Mr. Poilievre had already addressed the AFN in December 2022, in a video message which was booed by some participants present at the extraordinary assembly.
Nipissing First Nation Chief Scott McLeod then took to the microphone, urging organizers to “never present a video like this to residential school survivors,” which drew applause from those present.
Many Indigenous people remember Mr. Poilievre for comments he made the day Prime Minister Harper delivered Canada’s apology to residential school survivors in the House of Commons in 2008.
Speaking to radio station CFRA before the formal apology in the House, Mr. Poilievre said he was not sure Canadians were “getting value for money,” referring to compensation paid to former Indigenous students who had been forced to attend federal residential schools. Mr. Poilievre apologized shortly afterward.
The Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, implemented in September 2007, allocated $1.9 billion to former students.
Mr. Poilievre has since tried to make inroads with First Nations, including suggesting, earlier this year, a measure so that these communities could collect taxes themselves from the natural resources industry – which, according to he would speed up negotiations and approval of operating projects.
This measure was developed by the First Nations Tax Commission, an independent organization, and subsequently presented to the Conservative Party.