A former candidate for the NDP says he left the party because of concerns about the leadership, especially as it relates to the Corner Brook hospital and the PET scanner.

Graham Downey-Sutton was the candidate in the district of Corner Brook until he resigned last week just after organizing a rally and launching a petition.

Downey-Sutton, who ran in the byelection in Humber-Gros Morne last fall, was upset at being told by NDP Campaign Director (Former Nova Scotia NDP MLA) Mathew Whynott, that he had no chance of winning. He also told VOCM News that he was upset that he was told he couldn’t discuss issues that are important to the NDP such as social justice and environmental justice as they are not what people want to hear.

Premier Andrew Furey, who won the byelection in a landslide, is running for re-election as the MHA.

Downey-Sutton says the PCs and Liberals are talking about the scanner, but all Alison Coffin has done was post on social media.

He states that Coffin was quoted in the House of Assembly in October that Corner Brook may not even need a hospital in 30 years. He wants her to get her statements correct on the hospital because he says there is confusion out there.

VOCM News has reached out to Coffin for comment but she is travelling in Labrador today.