11.45°C Vancouver

Jul 11, 2024 7:11 PM - Connect Newsroom

Poilievre promises less interference, more economic control to Assembly of First Nations

Share On
poilievre-promises-less-interference-more-economic-control-to-assembly-of-first-nations
In December 2022, Poilievre addressed the assembly with a video message, which received boos from some people in attendance.(Photo: The Canadian Press)

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre delivered his first in-person address to the Assembly of First Nations on Thursday, pledging to reduce federal intervention and empower Indigenous communities to take control of their economic futures.

"I'm not here to control your lives. I don't want to control anyone's life," Poilievre stated. "I advocate for a small government that allows individuals to make their own choices and lead their own lives."

Acknowledging the expertise of the delegates, Poilievre emphasized that they understand their communities far better than Ottawa or himself, vowing to eliminate the "Ottawa knows best" mindset that he argues has resulted in harmful policies for First Nations.

"For too long, a flawed system has held you back, transferring power from you to politicians and bureaucrats in Ottawa," he said.

In December 2022, Poilievre addressed the assembly with a video message, which received boos from some people in attendance.

The Conservative Party has struggled to make inroads with Indigenous communities. Some delegates to the AFN meeting cited the legacy of former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who led the Conservative Party for 11 years.

Latest news

canada-post-union-set-for-meeting-with-ottawa-as-strike-stretches-on
CanadaOct 08, 2025

Canada Post union set for meeting with Ottawa as strike stretches on

The union representing striking Canada Post employees says it will meet with the federal minister in charge of the Crown corporation after accusing Ottawa of trampling on the collective bargaining process. Postal workers took to the picket lines nearly two weeks ago after Procurement Minister Joël Lightbound announced sweeping changes to Canada Post's mandate that would allow the struggling postal service to overhaul its operations in the midst of negotiations with the union. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers is asking the minister to roll back the changes that include permitting the end o
cadaver-dogs-fail-to-find-remains-in-search-for-missing-nova-scotia-children
CanadaOct 08, 2025

Cadaver dogs fail to find remains in search for missing Nova Scotia children

Nova Scotia RCMP say two tracking dogs trained to search for human remains have failed to find any trace of two children reported missing from their rural home more than five months ago. The Mounties say that in late September, the two cadaver dogs and their handlers covered 40 kilometres around the small community of Lansdowne Station, N.S., where six-year-old Lilly Sullivan and her four-year-old brother Jack were reported missing May 2. Investigators say the dogs searched the property in the province's northeast where the children went missing, trails along and near a pipeline, and an area w
transportation-safety-board-sending-team-to-accident-site-near-squamish-b-c
BCOct 08, 2025

Transportation Safety Board sending team to accident site near Squamish, B.C.

The Transportation Safety Board says it's sending a team of investigators to the site of a helicopter crash near Squamish, B.C., that occurred this morning. Board spokesman Chris Krepski says the accident happened just before 9:30 a.m. and involved a Bell 214 B1 helicopter that was carrying an external load. Krepski says the pilot was taken to Vancouver with serious injuries. He says the board couldn't confirm who the owner of the aircraft is, and could only share preliminary information after receiving a report. He says more information about the crash will be available once investigators arr
man-charged-in-shooting-near-surrey-b-c-police-building
BCOct 08, 2025

Man charged in shooting near Surrey, B.C., police building

Police say a man is facing multiple charges after allegedly firing shots near a Surrey SkyTrain station and a community police office yesterday afternoon. The Surrey Police Service says 34-year-old Jose Centeno has been charged with unauthorized firearm possession, reckless discharge, assaulting an officer and obstruction. The charges come after police say Centeno allegedly opened fire near the Gateway SkyTrain Station and a community police office on Monday afternoon. Investigators say the suspect fled the area of the station before being located near a Surrey Police Service community office
carney-returns-to-ottawa-without-a-deal-to-end-the-u-s-tariffs
CanadaOct 08, 2025

Carney returns to Ottawa without a deal to end the U.S. tariffs

Prime Minister Mark Carney returns to Ottawa today without any deals to remove U.S. tariffs from Canadian goods, but he is leaving two of his key ministers behind to keep pressing Canada's case. Carney met with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Tuesday afternoon, the second such meeting between the two leaders in less than six months. Trump told reporters ahead of that meeting that Carney was going to walk away "very happy" but showed no signs of relenting on tariffs and no deal was announced. Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc told reporters at a press conference follo

Related News