A Nova Scotia Conservative Party candidate in the upcoming federal election has apologized for deleted social media comments and posts he’s made about Muslims.
Steven Cotter is running in the riding of Central Nova. Central Nova encompasses the provincial riding held by newly appointed white Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs, Pat Dunn.
Amidst controversy last week surrounding Dunn’s appointment, as well as the firings of two African Nova Scotian female civil servants, on Thursday, Cotter posted a photo on social media of himself, and New Glasgow Black community elder Foster Elms thanking him for his advice and support on the campaign trail.
On Saturday, CTV reported about a number of past comments and posts by Cotter, including one where he responds with “a big yes” to a meme of Muslim women wearing burqas with the caption: “France and the Netherlands ban the burqa on security grounds. Repost if you think Canada should do the same!”
According to CTV:
Cotter added the comment, “This is a damn good question,” to a repost of a message questioning why British, Canadian, U.S. and U.K. military veterans receive reduced pensions, while immigrants “who have done nothing for our countries” receive housing, medical care and other benefits.
He also re-posted a Facebook message that falsely claimed former Australian prime minister Julia Gillard told Muslims who wanted to live under Islamic sharia law to leave the country.
Cotter also reposted another post where a cab driver allegedly kicks a Muslim passenger out of his car and tells him to ride a camel instead.
In a statement Saturday, Cotter said, “In the past I have shared social media posts without thinking about how these posts might hurt or offend others.”
“I have deleted these posts and apologize unreservedly to those I have offended.”
On Sunday, Cotter posted a photo of himself with former Central Nova Conservative MP, Peter MacKay and McKay’s wife Nazanin Afshin-Jam.
Cotter will remain the Conservative Party candidate in the federal election which takes place on Monday, September 20.
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Who is really surprised by what Matthew Byard wrote in this article?
Cotter is not about to be kicked to the curb by the conservatives for racism.
It is so easy for him to mumble a meaningless sorry after the fact.
I question whether Foster Elms knew that his photograph would be used by the racist candidate to imply that he has the support of members of the Black community in New Glasgow.
Nazanin Afshin-Jam is married to a former politician so posing for photographs with racists appears to be par for the course.
aj