Southwestern Ontario Conservative candidate Mark McKenzie out over ‘unacceptable’ comments

The Conservative candidate in Windsor—Tecumseh—Lakeshore has withdrawn from the federal election campaign due to controversial comments made in a podcast. Mark McKenzie, a city councillor and former radio personality, expressed support for public hangings and made a joke about former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau receiving the death penalty. The Conservative Party spokesperson stated that McKenzie’s comments were unacceptable, leading to his removal as a candidate.

The news of McKenzie’s withdrawal was first reported by CTV News during the second week of campaigning. Despite McKenzie’s claims that his comments were meant as jokes, the party decided to part ways with him. McKenzie, who is no longer listed as a candidate on the party’s website, expressed disappointment with the decision and hoped for a reconsideration.

In response to the controversy, the party has until April 7 to name a new candidate for Windsor—Tecumseh—Lakeshore. McKenzie’s name still appears on the Elections Canada website, but it is expected to be updated soon.

Windsor—Tecumseh—Lakeshore is a newly redrawn riding that includes parts of Windsor and neighboring communities. Liberal incumbent Irek Kusmierczyk is seeking re-election, with candidates from the New Democratic Party, People’s Party of Canada, and Christian Heritage Party of Canada also vying for the seat.

Political science professor Lydia Miljan commented on the situation, acknowledging the party’s swift action in response to McKenzie’s comments. She noted that while McKenzie passed the party’s vetting process, the decision to remove him was the right one.

Chris Tolmie, McKenzie’s podcast co-host, defended their dialogue as intended for comedy. He acknowledged that in today’s political climate, words have consequences and that people have the right to hold McKenzie accountable for his remarks.

The controversy surrounding McKenzie’s comments serves as a reminder of the importance of vetting candidates and ensuring that their public statements align with party values. As the election campaign continues, the focus shifts to selecting a new Conservative candidate for Windsor—Tecumseh—Lakeshore who can represent the party effectively and responsibly.