A Conservative candidate in Courtenay-Comox has dropped out of the provincial election campaign after social media posts deemed anti-LGBTQ came to light.
Since-deleted posts by Damon Scrase, who was nominated in January, were captured and posted by CKNW radio host Jas Johal.
They include a 2022 post calling some Pride parade participants “degenerates.”
“I’m a blue-collar guy who never aspired to be a public figure, and certainly not a politician,” Scrase wrote in a statement.
“Like many of us I have made posts on social media years ago that make me wince, which don’t reflect what I think or who I am today.”
Scrase, who withdrew on Tuesday, said he did not want his “old, unfortunate comments to distract from the important work currently being done to fix our incredible province.”
He called his short stint in politics an educational journey: “I leave with high hopes, in good spirit, with deep humility, and gratefulness in my heart.”
His Conservative Party candidate page has already been eliminated.
The provincial election is expected to be held in October.
