Premier Andrew Furey wants the PCs to remove Lin Paddock as their candidate in the district of Baie Verte-Green Bay, but leader Tony Wakeham believes the man’s apology goes far enough.
Paddock stirred up controversy after comments, which some regard as racist, he made when talking about the recruitment of doctors from countries such as India and Pakistan.
During Question Period yesterday, Furey asked Wakeham to address Paddock’s statements in the House, but the leader did not stray from his line of questioning, instead referencing comments already made in the media.
Furey believes the apology issued by Paddock was “hollow.”
“That is an apology with reservation, that is an apology that suggests ‘I am sorry that my beliefs offended you.'” Furey says Wakeham needs to do “what’s right” and send the right signal to the people of the province.”
Furey would later clarify that “what’s right” is to remove Paddock as the candidate.
Wakeham says he has accepted Paddock’s apology and he does not share the Premier’s sentiment that it was hollow.
He says the candidate is upset about the situation and that the way the comments were interpreted was not his intent. He says Paddock toured for 30 years as a member of the armed forces and dealt with people of many backgrounds, and believes in diversity and inclusivity.