Brampton Mayor Brown and Poilievre spar over ‘white replacement theory,’ trucker convoy
Published May 16, 2022 at 4:36 pm
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown and Pierre Poilievre clashed again on Monday over “white replacement theory” and the protests that brought Ottawa and Canadian border crossings to a standstill.
In a statement today, high-profile contender for the Conservative party leadership Poilievre condemned the attack, in which police say a white gunman shot up a supermarket in a majority black neighbourhood of Buffalo, N.Y., killing 10 people and wounding three others.
U.S. law enforcement is investigating the shooter’s online posts, which include the so-called “white replacement” conspiracy theory that there’s a plot to diminish the influence of white people.
The theory, which Poilievre called “ugly and disgusting hate-mongering,” is believed to be a motive for the shooting.
Poilievre’s comments were responding to a tweet by fellow leadership contestant Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown which pointed out that Pat King, one of the leaders of the February “Freedom Convoy” that Poilievre supported, has spread the conspiracy theory online.
Brown called on his rival to “condemn this hate,” in his tweet while Poilievre called out Brown for using the shooting as a political football.
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“For Patrick Brown to use this atrocity is sleazy — even for him,” Poilievre said. “I supported the peaceful and law-abiding truckers who protested for their livelihoods and freedoms while simultaneously condemning any individuals who broke laws, behaved badly or blocked critical infrastructure.”
Interim Conservative leader Candice Bergen also issued a statement Monday calling racism repugnant.
“The ‘white-replacement’ conspiracy theory is peddled by racists and bigots, Conservatives unequivocally condemn this kind of thinking,” she said.
Bergen went on to say that “while Canadians are free to protest and demonstrate, that does not include illegally blocking or occupying infrastructure, nor does it include illegal hate-speech.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 16, 2022.
— With files from The Associated Press
The Canadian Press
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