The Progressive Conservatives cut ties with a candidate Monday after a transphobic social media post emerged over the weekend.
But Roland Michaud said he will remain an independent candidate in the northern New Brunswick riding of Victoria-La Vallee.
“While I respect everyone’s right to have their own personal views, I cannot endorse the promotion of messaging that is clearly sexist, offensive, and hurtful to many people,” said leader Blaine Higgs during a news conference late Monday afternoon.
“I especially cannot accept anything that incites violence against any community and I certainly cannot endorse that form of a person seeking public office.”
PressProgress first reported Sunday about a meme which Michaud had reposted to his Facebook page in 2018.
The post, which no longer appeared on Michaud’s page as of Monday afternoon, made light of physical violence against transgendered women.
“A man followed a young girl into a Target bathroom in Texas saying he self-identified as a woman. The man’s teeth were knocked out by the girl’s father, who says he self-identifies as the tooth fairy,” read the post.
When first asked about the post on Monday morning, Higgs said he had just been made aware of it and would be looking into the incident.
During the afternoon news conference, the PC leader said cutting ties with Michaud was not a difficult decision.
“You know, sometimes and many times, decisions aren’t easy, but doing the right thing should never be real difficult,” he said.
“I know it’s tough on him and his family but it’s a message. It’s a message that we send across the province that we have higher standards. We have higher standards that we uphold and that we all must follow.”
Saint John Harbour Liberal candidate Alice McKim, who is transgender, joined leader Kevin Vickers during a campaign stop in Saint John on Monday morning. She called on Higgs to remove Michaud as the party’s candidate.
“A candidate that ridicules the dignity of women, gay people, trans people, is a danger to our free and peaceful society and not fit for office,” said McKim. “The PC Party needs to stand up against violence and discrimination against minorities by letting this candidate go. Blaine Higgs, this is an easy call. This is simple. Let him go, let’s move on.”
Because the nomination deadline has passed, the PCs will not be able to have another candidate in Victoria La-Vallee.
“I know some might think this is a risk – asking a candidate to withdraw so close to election day. We are in a minority government. It’s no secret I’m in a vulnerable situation,” said Higgs.
“I am trying to win a majority, and clearly every seat counts. But I’ve never shied away from doing what’s right – even if it hurts me politically. That’s not my way.”
Polling data compiled by 338Canada.com showed a tight race in Victoria-La Vallee. As of the last update on Sunday, Michaud was projected to have 44 per cent of the popular vote, just 0.4 percentage points behind Liberal incumbent Chuck Chiasson.
Higgs said the party has a vetting process for all candidates and he will be working to understand how a post like this was missed.
