OTTAWA -- A Conservative candidate in Nova Scotia has apologized for sharing social media posts about Muslims and immigrants but will continue to run for the party in a riding once held by former prime minister Brian Mulroney.
鈥淚n the past I have shared social media posts without thinking about how these posts might hurt or offend others,鈥� Central Nova candidate Steven Cotter said in a statement Saturday forwarded to CTV News by the party.
鈥淚 have deleted these posts and apologize unreservedly to those I have offended."
On Facebook, Cotter reposted messages about sharia law, an Islamic legal tradition, expressed support for Canada banning the burqa worn by some Muslim women, and questioned funding for immigrants at the expense of military veterans.
Cotter is a town councillor, school bus driver and volunteer firefighter, according to his campaign鈥檚 Facebook page.
One of the stories re-posted by Cotter鈥檚 now-deactivated Facebook account described a Muslim passenger who asked his London black cab driver to turn off the radio because the music offended his faith. The driver is described as telling the passenger to get out and ride a camel instead.
Cotter added the comment, "This is a damn good question,鈥� to a repost of a message questioning why British, Canadian, U.S. and U.K. military veterans receive reduced pensions, while immigrants 鈥渨ho have done nothing for our countries鈥� receive housing, medical care and other benefits.
He also commented 鈥渁 very big yes鈥� to a post showing a picture of women wearing burqas with the caption 鈥淔rance and the Netherlands ban the burqa on security grounds. Repost if you think Canada should do the same!鈥�
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.
Liberal Sean Fraser held Central Nova when parliament was dissolved and is running for re-election.
Mulroney won the riding in a 1983 by-election. Cotter鈥檚 campaign Facebook page includes an endorsement from the riding鈥檚 former MP, Peter MacKay.
On Friday, a Liberal candidate in Alberta apologized for a Twitter message she posted in June in response to reports of dissension within the Green Party.
Irene Walker, running in Sturgeon River鈥揚arkland, tweeted about leader Annamie Paul, who is Black and Jewish: 鈥淧ersonally, I think she has done a great disservice to women, people who are not white and Jews.鈥�
In a statement, Walker said, 鈥淚 made inappropriate comments online that I shouldn鈥檛 have made and I regret.鈥� She remains the Liberal candidate in the riding.
The Liberals announced Saturday that Ontario MP Raj Saini would no longer be their candidate in Kitchener Centre, following a CBC report on allegations of sexual misconduct that he denied.
Elections Canada deadline for candidates to withdraw has passed, so Saini鈥檚 name will remain on the ballot and cannot be replaced by another candidate.
