Conservatives drop Quebec candidate for accusing Polytechnique survivor of exploiting shooting

The Conservative Party of Canada has made the decision to drop a Quebec candidate, Simon Payette, from running in the Berthier—Maskinongé riding after he made harsh criticisms towards Liberal candidate and Polytechnique shooting survivor Nathalie Provost online. This move was confirmed by a spokesperson for the party, Sam Lilly, who stated that Payette’s conduct was deemed inappropriate and inexcusable.

In his social media posts and comments, Payette accused Provost, who is an advocate for stricter gun laws, of using the tragic events of the Polytechnique shooting to further the agenda of “anti-gun extremists.” These comments sparked outrage and ultimately led to his removal as a candidate for the CPC in the upcoming election.

The Berthier—Maskinongé riding is located just northeast of Montreal, where Provost is running for election in the Châteauguay—Les Jardins-de-Napierville riding. Payette’s remarks not only caused controversy but also highlighted the importance of respectful discourse in political campaigns.

In an interview with Radio-Canada, Payette defended his statements by pointing out the presence of lobbyists on both sides of the gun control debate. However, his justifications were not enough to salvage his candidacy, as the party took swift action to distance themselves from his remarks.

This recent incident marks the fifth candidate that the Conservative Party has dropped as the April 28 election approaches, and the second in Quebec this week. Earlier in the week, Stefan Marquis was also removed as a candidate in the Montreal riding of Laurier-Sainte-Marie due to controversial posts he made on social media.

Marquis’ posts touched on various conspiracy theories related to COVID-19, vaccines, the World Economic Forum, and the invasion of Ukraine. While the CPC declined to provide a specific reason for his removal, it is clear that the party is taking a strong stance against candidates who engage in divisive or inflammatory rhetoric.

Overall, these developments serve as a reminder of the importance of responsible communication and respectful dialogue in the political arena. As the election draws near, it is crucial for candidates to uphold the values of integrity and civility in their campaigns, in order to foster a healthy and constructive democratic process.