The Birth of OneBC: Denial, Division, and the Dangerous Road Ahead

A new political party has emerged in British Columbia. Its name is OneBC, and it comes onto the scene not just with a policy platform but with a cultural agenda. Founded by Dallas Brodie and Tara Armstrong, two MLAs who left the BC Conservative Party, OneBC presents itself as a champion of traditional values and common-sense conservatism. But beneath those slogans lies a troubling pattern of denial, exclusion, and ideological retrenchment that we cannot ignore.

This is not simply a story of party realignment. This is a political moment with deep moral consequences.

The Politics of Denial

The public statement that sparked OneBC’s creation was Dallas Brodie’s denial of the evidence of unmarked graves at former residential school sites. This was not an offhand comment. It was a rejection of Indigenous truth and a dismissal of the immense suffering experienced by generations of Indigenous children.

The residential school system in Canada was a tool of cultural genocide. Children were forcibly taken from their families, punished for speaking their languages, and subjected to physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. Thousands died in these institutions. Their stories are not speculation. They are documented, recorded, and remembered by survivors, communities, and public inquiries such as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

To deny this reality is not simply historical ignorance. It is a political act that serves to undermine reconciliation and embolden those who long for a return to colonial dominance. It is a continuation of the mindset that says only one kind of story—white, settler, Christian—is legitimate in our national narrative.

The Structure of White Supremacy

This denial is not an isolated incident. It is consistent with a worldview rooted in white supremacy. Not always expressed through hate symbols or violence, white supremacy often appears in quieter, more insidious forms. It shows up in policies and rhetoric that uphold the dominance of a particular culture, while erasing or diminishing the histories and identities of others.

OneBC’s platform opposes mass immigration. It rejects inclusive education. It portrays reconciliation efforts as a costly and manipulative industry. It dismisses the growing visibility of LGBTQ+ people and their rights, especially in schools.

These are not neutral policy debates. These are calculated moves to protect a narrow definition of who belongs in British Columbia. When a party builds power by attacking Indigenous memory, queer dignity, and immigrant presence, it is not just socially conservative. It becomes a vehicle for exclusion.

In this context, white supremacy is not just about explicit racial hatred. It is embedded in a politics that resists the discomfort of change and diversity, and that refuses to share voice, power, or space.

The Attack on LGBTQ+ Youth

OneBC also directs its fire at SOGI 123, British Columbia’s inclusive education policy that helps schools prevent bullying and support LGBTQ+ students. Brodie has spoken out against Pride Month. Armstrong has spread harmful conspiracies about a so-called gender industry.

This is not about protecting families. It is about erasing identities. It is about removing visibility for queer and trans youth. It is about dismissing the dignity of families that do not fit a narrow mold.

Research and lived experience show that LGBTQ+ youth thrive when they feel seen, supported, and safe. They are at higher risk of bullying, depression, and suicide when marginalized. Removing support systems does not protect children. It places them in danger.

Why This Matters

The rise of OneBC is not just about one party. It reflects a broader cultural undercurrent that is growing more confident in rejecting diversity and weaponizing fear. If left unchallenged, these ideas can shift public discourse and make space for harmful policies that roll back progress.

The denial of residential school horrors, the erasure of LGBTQ+ identities, and the scapegoating of immigrants are not separate issues. They come from the same ideological foundation. They seek to protect a version of society that privileges some and excludes many.

A Call to the Faithful

For those of us in faith communities, especially in the Church, this moment calls for courage. We cannot stay silent when our neighbors are being scapegoated. We cannot claim to follow Christ while ignoring the suffering of others. Jesus stood with the marginalized. He did not protect the powerful by turning away from truth.

If we believe in reconciliation, we must defend it. If we believe in love, we must extend it to all. If we believe in truth, we must be willing to tell it, even when it is uncomfortable.

What Kind of Province Are We Becoming?

The formation of OneBC forces a deep and urgent question. What kind of province do we want to build? One shaped by denial and a selective memory of the past? Or one committed to truth, justice, and shared belonging?

We must choose the better path. One that acknowledges history instead of rewriting it. One that affirms every child’s dignity rather than questioning their identity. One that sees our future not through the lens of fear, but through the promise of compassion, understanding, and justice.

Let us not be passive. Let us stand with those whose stories are being dismissed. Let us walk the path of hope and solidarity. Let us build a province where truth is honoured, and every person is treated with dignity.