Liberals Cut Ties With Candidate Over Controversial Posts
The Liberal Party announced on Monday night that it was cutting ties with Saint Croix candidate John Gardner, who is no longer their candidate after comments made on social media that were “offensive to both women and the LGBTQ2I+ community and not in keeping with the values of the New Brunswick Liberal Party.”
The party calls it “unfortunate” the people of Saint Croix won’t have the choice to vote Liberal in this important election.
The Liberal statement says “once the comments came to light we quickly informed the candidate we would be moving ahead without him.”
On Monday night, Gardner said that he would run as an independent and that the comments the party deemed offensive were misunderstood.
“My comments, while on the outset, appear to be homophobic were pointing out the way in which we all fight for our rights, and sometimes conflict with what others consider to be their rights,” he wrote on Facebook.
“I myself am part of the LGBT community and work in a business where we fly the rainbow flag, not as a right, but as an identity. Here is the thing. When I was asked to run for the Liberals, I told the leader I was not a Liberal. I am from Saint Croix, and it was Saint Croix I would always represent.”
RELATED: Higgs Asks PC Candidate To Withdraw Over Transphobic Post
The Progressive Conservative Party also announced one of their candidates was no longer welcome to run for the party because of social media posts.
Victoria La-Vallee candidate Roland Michaud reposted a transphobic post on his social media page in 2018 and has been asked to withdraw from the election by party leader Blaine Higgs.
Tamara Steele is a reporter with Country 94/97.3 The Wave, Huddle content partners.