Conservatives drop Montreal candidate who shared conspiracy theories on social media

Stefan Marquis made a surprising announcement on Tuesday that he will no longer be a candidate for the Conservative Party of Canada in the Montreal riding of Laurier-Sainte-Marie. This decision came as a result of recent posts he made on social media, which led to his abrupt removal from the party.

In a detailed post written in both French and English, Marquis shared that he received a call from one of Quebec’s operations managers for the party, informing him that certain individuals within the party deemed his recent posts as grounds to end their political collaboration. The call was brief, lasting less than a minute.

Expressing his disappointment, Marquis criticized the party for disregarding the fundamental principle of liberty and failing to respect differing opinions. He emphasized the importance of upholding freedom of speech and opinion for both party members and the citizens they represent.

Although Marquis did not specify which specific posts led to his removal, he mentioned that the party had reviewed his social media account before his nomination in March. Despite the scrutiny, all his posts and replies made since then remained visible on his profile, except for the nomination announcement.

The Conservative Party confirmed Marquis’ departure as a candidate, but spokesperson Audrey Lepage declined to provide a reason for his removal. Marquis had previously shared controversial views on topics such as COVID-19, vaccines, the World Economic Forum, and the invasion of Ukraine.

Marquis was not the only candidate to face consequences for their past remarks. Mark McKenzie, the Conservative candidate in Windsor—Tecumseh—Lakeshore, was also dropped from the campaign due to controversial comments made in a podcast recording where he expressed support for public hangings.

As Canada’s general election approaches on April 28, the political landscape continues to be eventful. Steven Guilbeault, representing Laurier-Sainte-Marie for the Liberals since 2019, remains a prominent figure in the upcoming election. The developments surrounding Marquis and McKenzie highlight the importance of accountability and responsible communication in the political sphere.