BC Conservative Candidate Faces Backlash Over First Nations Comments
Mike Hicks, a BC Conservative candidate, sparked widespread condemnation after stating in a debate that First Nations have to be conquered.
BC Conservative candidate Mike Hicks faced widespread criticism after a video from an October 9 debate surfaced in which he stated that First Nations "have to be conquered." The remarks prompted immediate condemnation from T’Sou-ke Councillor Debra Lazzar and NDP candidate Dana Lajeunesse, who described the language as offensive.
Hicks defended the comments as an "inartfully" delivered explanation of English law. He argued that because settlers neither conquered First Nations nor signed treaties, modern treaties must now be negotiated. Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson noted that the comments sounded offensive at first blush.
Political opponents used the incident to characterize the BC Conservative Party as unstable. BC Green Party leader Emily Lowan called for Hicks's removal from the party slate, citing a pattern of controversies. NDP leader David Eby described the remarks as evidence of extremism and chaos within the Conservative party.
The controversy follows other campaign scandals, including the removal of Conservative candidate Jordan McIntosh for Holocaust-minimizing posts and allegations of professional impropriety against NDP candidate Linda Li.
