Aaron Gunn

Aaron Gunn MP (born 1989 or 1990)^[2] is a Canadian politician and filmmaker. A member of the Conservative Party, he has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for North Island—Powell River since the 2025 federal election.

Gunn's campaign drew national attention due to controversy over his remarks on residential schools and Indigenous reconciliation, which were condemned by the British Columbia's First Nations Leadership Council and other indigenous groups.^[3] In 2022, he had previously sought the leadership of the British Columbia (BC) Liberal Party, but was disqualified.^[4]

Gunn grew up in Greater Victoria,^[4] and became interested in filmmaking as a teenager.^[5] He earned a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Victoria^[6] and served in the 5th (British Columbia) Field Artillery Regiment of the Canadian Army Reserve.^[3][7]

After university, Gunn worked for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, where he developed his communication skills.^[5] He then worked for conservative organization Canada Proud, producing about 200 two-minute videos on political topics.^[5]

Aaron Gunn has been producing both short- and long-form videos since 2017. His documentary series, Politics Explained, has amassed millions of views across Facebook and YouTube, with four seasons available to watch online.^[8]

As a result of consistent content on social media, Gunn is among the most followed political figures in Western Canada, with 120,000 followers on Facebook and 99,100 subscribers on YouTube.^[8]

Gunn’s filmmaking career grew to significant prominence in 2022, when he released Vancouver Is Dying, an hour-long documentary that explores issues including crime, homelessness and the overdose crisis.^[9] Published on the heels of the 2022 Vancouver municipal election, the movie garnered over two million views on YouTube in just a few weeks.^[9]

Some analyses have speculated that the film played a pivotal role in then-mayor Kennedy Stewart losing the election.^[10] Stewart himself validated this speculation, crediting Gunn’s work for his loss.^[11] Critics say the film misrepresents addiction policy and contributes to the stigmatization of marginalized populations.^[9] The film presently sits at 4.5 million views on YouTube.^[12]

Gunn went on to produce Canada Is Dying, a sequel which garnered nearly two million views on YouTube.^[13]

In October 2021, Gunn announced he was seeking the leadership of the BC Liberal Party (now BC United). However, he was disqualified from the 2022 British Columbia Liberal Party leadership election after the party stated that his views conflicted with its commitments to diversity and reconciliation.^[4][14]

Following his disqualification, Gunn founded Common Sense BC, an advocacy group to explore the viability of a right-wing alternative to the BC Liberals.^[15] Common Sense endorsed a slate of candidates who stood for election to the BC Conservative Party board at the May 2022 annual general meeting. The endorsed candidates, including conservative strategist Angelo Isidorou, were elected, marking a significant shift in the party's leadership.^[16] In August 2022, the party revealed a new logo, website, and platform. Isidorou went on to serve as Executive Director and Provincial Campaign Manager in the 2024 BC general election.^[17]

Gunn received the federal Conservative Party nomination in December 2023 for the riding of North Island—Powell River.^[18] His candidacy came under scrutiny during the 2025 federal election for his previous social media posts about Canada's residential school system, including controversial remarks where he claimed Indigenous groups in Ontario had “asked for” residential schools and that the word "genocide" did not reflect the reality of the residential school system.^[19] In 2020, Gunn tweeted: “There was no genocide. Stop lying to people and read a book”.^[20] He continued to make statements of this nature in 2021 when he described residential schools as “much-maligned”.^[21] These comments were condemned by the British Columbia's First Nations Leadership Council and the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs.^[22] Indigenous groups protested at Gunn's campaign office.^[23] An online petition calling for his removal as a candidate because of those comments received over 15,000 signatures.^[24][25]

Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre stood by Gunn, despite calls to have him removed.^[26] Poilievre called the claims that Gunn had denied the impact of residential schools "false" and "misinformation".^[21] Gunn did not speak for himself on the issue, but Poilievre asserted that "[Gunn] has said that he wants to continue to condemn the residential schools and build stronger partnerships with First Nations people to unlock our resources so that we can produce incredible paycheques and opportunities for First Nations communities".^[21]

Gunn has publicly opposed the B.C. Northern Shelf Marine Protected Area (MPA) Network (better known as the Great Bear Sea MPA Network). The conservation project has involved nearly 20 years of negotiations with over a dozen coastal First Nations, the province of British Columbia, and the federal government.^[27] The scope of the MPA was decided through consultation with 17 First Nation leaders who have been involved in identifying the key conservation areas in their territories, as well as biologists, provincial marine planners and Fisheries and Oceans Canada staff.^[27] Gunn produced a video titled “No Fishing Allowed: Trudeau's plan to decimate an entire industry”, arguing the MPA is without scientific merit and politically motivated move by former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to end commercial and recreational fishing. Gunn asserts the MPA is solely the “agenda of radical environmentalists”.

Gunn was elected in the 2025 federal election, receiving 38.8% of the vote, flipping the seat from the New Democratic Party (NDP).^[28] The election discussion largely revolved around Gunn, as both the NDP and Liberal Party candidates defined their candidacies in opposition to his.^[29] The surge in the Liberal Party vote potentially split the vote and contributed to his win.^[30]

In interviews after his win, MP-elect Gunn emphasized that voters were concerned about jobs, crime, and the drug crisis. He noted many in his district are tired of losing high-paying jobs and having to work out of province.^[31]

On 16 June 2025, Gunn was appointed to the Standing Committee for Fisheries and Oceans.^[32]

Gunn describes himself as a "small-c" conservative.^[33]

Diversity practices in the military

Gunn opposes diversity hiring in the Canadian military, stating that it constitutes discrimination against white males. As of 2025, the Canadian military is 70% white and male.^[34]

Gender issues

Gunn believes that there are two genders and that the “gender pay gap doesn’t exist".^[35]

Abortion

After an alleged informal conversation with Gunn, the anti-abortion group Campaign Life Coalition rated him with an approving "green light".^[36] However, Campaign Life Coalition rates politicians based on a survey they offer. Gunn never completed any such survey, but the group rated him with a "green light" regardless. ^[37]

Opioid crisis

Gunn opposes decriminalization and safe supply, stating that their implementation has been a "terrible disaster" in Canada. He says that treatment and recovery should be prioritized.^[38]

Russia

Gunn posted about Russian president Vladimir Putin approvingly on social media in 2014. He also suggested that Russia would have faced less international scrutiny for its anti-LGBT law if it had taken what he described as the "politically prudent" approach of broadly restricting free expression, as China had done during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. These comments resurfaced in 2025, when he was running for MP. He recanted his old statements, calling them "foolish".^[22]