PPC leader Maxime Bernier is the only politician to publicly support a parent elected to a Hamilton school board that objected to land acknowledgments during school proceedings. Catherine Kronas, a parent of a student at Ancaster High School who was re-elected to the school council in October 2024, said land acknowledgments equate to compelled speech — as a result, she was unceremoniously removed from her position on the school board. .Parent suspended for objecting to land acknowledgement; legal warning sent to Ontario school board .“This is not reconciliation. It is repression. This is not about land acknowledgements. This is about freedom of expression,” said Bernier in a video posted to X Wednesday evening.“Catherine was kicked off her school council simply for speaking her mind.”“That's not okay in a free society, and we cannot tolerate that. It is a violation of our Charter of Rights.”“Symbolic politics won't fix broken policies. Land acknowledgements don't help indigenous Canadians. Ending the racist Indian Act and giving them property rights will.”.UPDATED: PROMISES, PROMISES — Federal leaders' campaign pledges for 2025.Bernier called for a repeal of the “racist Indian Act,” a 19th-century law that still governs First Nations status, reserves, property rights and band governance. It gave Ottawa sweeping control over indigenous lives and outlawed cultural practices.The PPC in its 2025 election platform promised to end the Indian Act. Bernier said his party is “the only party with the courage to speak the truth.”.GOLD STANDARD: Bernier calls for Canada to stockpile gold again.“We are the only party calling for the end of the Indian Act. It is time for equality, not separate laws, not government dependency,” said Bernier.“Today, they silence Catherine. Tomorrow that can be you.”The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF), now representing Kronas, has sent a legal warning letter to Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board.
