B.C. Conservative MLA hits back at residential-school deniers within own party caucus

VICTORIA — B.C. Conservative MLA Peter Milobar delivered some deeply personal comments on the floor of the legislature this week against what he regards as the residential school denialism emerging within his own party caucus.

“I come from this with a bit of a background that maybe people aren’t quite aware of,” the Kamloops MLA advised the house. “My wife, my kids, they’re all Indigenous. My grandchildren are Indigenous. My son-in-law is a Tk’emlúps band member.”

The Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Nation was on the receiving end of a weekend posting on social media by B.C. Conservative MLA Dallas Brodie: “The number of confirmed child burials at the former Kamloops Indian Residential (school) site is zero.”

Milobar didn’t name Brodie in the house. His comments, then and later, left no doubt he was responding directly to her on behalf of his family and community.

“When denialism does from time to time raise up in the broader conversation, both in B.C. and across the country, it has a direct impact on Tk’emlúps,” said the MLA. “They’re faced with people literally showing up with shovels to try to prove a point, to get into secure areas. We wouldn’t expect that in any other situation, yet it seems to be fair game.”

He recalled how the issue came up last year, when switched from B.C. United (formerly the B.C. Liberals) to the B.C. Conservatives. At a meeting of the Tk’emlúps, he was called out by Manny Jules, former chief of the nation.

Milobar: “Point blank, he asked me, in front of everyone: ‘What will you do in the face of denialism? What will you do in the chamber? Will you be our voice to push back against that?’

“I flat-out said: ‘Yes, I absolutely would,’“ Milobar assured the legislature.

“I wouldn’t be true to my commitments if I didn’t take opportunities like that have presented unfortunately over the last week or so to make sure people understand exactly where I stand. I want the Tk’emlúps membership to know. I want the rest of my constituents to know.”

Milobar recognized that his comments would not be welcome in every quarter, not excluding within his own party.

“I know there will be many, unfortunately, that don’t agree with me,” said the MLA. “That’s OK, I guess. We’ll try to bring people along this journey.”

Lest there be any doubt, Milobar confirmed in a followup interview with CBC Kelowna that his comments in the house were provoked by Brodie’s post.

“Obviously, I don’t align with those views,” he told host Sarah Penton. “I literally just finished doing a speech in the legislature here where I laid out very clearly my thoughts on denialism and what’s happened within residential schools and what the nations are facing — Tk’emlúps in particular.