NDP Leader David Eby on Monday said in a statement that on Sunday night, the public learned that BC Conservative Leader John Rustad’s candidate in Surrey South, Brent Chapman, has denied the reality of horrific mass shootings, including the murder of six people at a Quebec City mosque.
Eby said: “Six worshippers were murdered in Quebec City, 20 children and six teachers were slaughtered at Sandy Hook, and 49 people were killed in Orlando. These tragedies shattered lives. John Rustad’s candidate says they were faked to further political agendas including gun control.
“John Rustad should have fired this candidate days ago for his openly racist and homophobic comments. He must fire him today.
“If he doesn’t have the backbone to draw this line with his own candidates, why would British Columbians trust him to lead the province?”
Chapman is the husband of South Surrey-White Rock Conservative MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay.
People and organizations calling for Chapman to resign or be fired include the BC Muslim Association, the White Rock Muslim Association, the Pakistan-Canada Association, the BC Union of Indian Chiefs, and media commentators such as Kareem Allam and Mo Amir.
Chapman’s comments include:
Calling Muslim kids “little inbred walking, talking, breathing time bombs.”
Saying that “coexistence with Islam” is “absolutely not” possible.
Saying “there is something wrong” with Muslims and that they shouldn’t have a “seat at the table.”
Suggesting mass shootings, including at a Quebec City mosque and at Sandy Hook Elementary, are fake and share “sketchy stories that change drastically from initial events.”
Sharing a graphic that compares BC public health policies to The Holocaust.
Laughing and agreeing with a podcast host as she called mass graves of Indigenous children at residential schools a “massive fraud.”
Posting a graphic instructing opponents of Donald Trump how to “kill themselves.”