Alberta United Conservative Party (UCP) leader Danielle Smith has finally decided to exclude an aspiring MP from a possible Conservative caucus, five days after controversial remarks targeting transgender children surfaced in the middle of the last electoral straight line in the province.
• Read also: Judge bans transgender student from wearing dress to graduation
• Read also: Letter to our allies, on this Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia
• Read also: Rules for transgender athletes in student sport: Quebec not ready to decide
Last September, candidate Jennifer Johnson took part in a discussion organized by the Western Unity Group – which campaigns for the autonomy of the western provinces – on the setbacks of the public education system and the advantages of going to school. at home.
At the event, Ms Johnson compared the presence of transgender children in schools to adding a spoonful of fecal matter to a cookie recipe.
“We may be in the top 3%, but this little amount of shit ruins everything,” she added, referring to the quality of Alberta’s education system.
These remarks were brought back in the news last Friday. In the process, outgoing Prime Minister Danielle Smith had indicated, in an interview with CTV News, that she did not intend to separate from her candidate.
“I believe in redemption. I believe people can have a second chance. She will have to prove herself,” she said.
The candidate’s Facebook page also posted a message on Tuesday suggesting that Ms. Johnson could well be part of Danielle Smith’s caucus. This message was deleted on Wednesday.
The head of the UCP finally backtracked on Wednesday, assuring that Jennifer Johnson will never join her caucus, if the Conservative Party forms the next government and she is elected.
Alberta’s general election will be held on Monday. They mainly pit Danielle Smith against the leader of the NDP and former Prime Minister Rachel Notley.
According to a poll conducted by Abacus from May 19 to 22, Ms. Smith has a slight lead with 51% of the voting intentions, against 46% for Ms. Notley.