A provincial cabinet minister who had established her influencer status on social media before last year’s general election is now vowing to quit the online presence.

Andrea Barbour, the minister for the environment and climate change, has raised eyebrows on many occasions but last week she dabbled in biblical musings in a statement on Facebook announcing her departure from social platforms.

Amanda Bittner, a political scientist at Memorial University, says the online world is not a pleasant place for politicians, especially if one is female, Indigenous or of colour.

She told the Tim Powers Show on VOCM that it’s difficult to know what to make of her situation but her public pronouncements do not always make the governing party look good.

“I’m not sure how much mentorship she is getting from the party, or if she is getting mentorship, I’m not sure if she’s listening. But, from the outside it’s not pretty and t doesn’t make the party look good.

“I wouldn’t want it. I have had death threats and I’m not a politician. It’s not nice,” said Bittner.