Conservative Leader John Rustad said Tuesday that Marina Sapozhnikov will not be running for the party again, after Postmedia News reported on her derogatory comments about Indigenous Peoples.
At a news conference in Victoria, a reporter asked if Rustad believed he had work to do to rebuild relationships after the provincial election campaign.
“I think you’re referring to a comment that our candidate in the Malahat made,” Rustad replied. “I find her comments that she made quite offensive, and certainly they’re not part of who I am or who we are as a party, and I can tell you that she will not be a candidate for this party going forward should there be a snap election.”
Sapozhnikov was the Conservative candidate in the riding of Juan de Fuca-Malahat where she finished 23 votes behind the NDP’s Dana Lajeunesse after election night. In an election-night interview with a Vancouver Island University student, Sapozhnikov made several disparaging comments about First Nations people, and used a racist slur.
Last Friday, when Postmedia News sought Rustad’s response about Sapozhnikov’s remarks, he said he was “appalled” but made no indication he was considering her removal from the party. At the time, the party was awaiting results of the recount that could have helped to determine which party would form government.
After the story broke about Sapozhnikov’s comments on Friday, First Nations leaders criticized Rustad for not immediately kicking her out of the Conservative party.
After the weekend’s recount and tally of mail-in and absentee ballots, Lajeunesse extended his lead over Sapozhnikov to 141 votes, confirming the NDP’s win in the riding.
Sapozhnikov declined to comment Tuesday about Rustad’s statement.
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