Politics · Canada · 18 hrs ago
Eby calls on B.C. Conservative leader to fire campaign director over anti-Islam post
British Columbia NDP Leader David Eby is calling on interim Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson to fire campaign director Katy Merrifield.
The dispute centres on a post Merrifield made in June about a report on sexual abuse of young girls in Britain.
In the post, she called Islam an “abhorrent ideology” and urged people to defend Western civilization.
Merrifield later said she deleted the post within hours and that her anger was directed at extremism, not Muslims or their faith.
Eby says Doerkson should remove her, especially after he fired Conservative candidate Joachim Agou over comments about Muslims.
Conservative candidate Zeeshan Wahla said Agou’s comments were different because they incited violence, while Merrifield was reacting to violence; he also called her original wording unacceptable.
The sources do not say whether Doerkson will act on Eby’s demand.
NDP Leader David Eby called on interim B.C. Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson to fire campaign director Katy Merrifield over her anti-Islam social media post.
Merrifield’s June 17 post described Islam as an “abhorrent ideology” and called for it to be expelled.
Merrifield said she was reacting to extremism and sexual violence described in a report, not to Muslims or their faith.
Conservative candidate Zeeshan Wahla said Merrifield’s post was unacceptable but distinguished it from comments by a candidate who was fired for inciting violence.
The dispute follows Doerkson’s decision to remove candidate Joachim Agou over comments about Muslims.
- Who
- NDP Leader David Eby called on interim B.C. Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson to fire campaign director Katy Merrifield.
- What
- Eby said Doerkson should remove Merrifield over her social media post about Islam.
- When
- Eby made the call on Saturday. Merrifield’s post was first published on June 17.
- Where
- Eby spoke at a campaign announcement on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
- Why
- Eby said Doerkson should be held accountable for Merrifield’s comments. Merrifield said her anger was directed at extremism, not Muslims or their faith.
David Eby
Zeeshan Wahla
Accountability
David Eby
Eby said Doerkson must remove Merrifield and show where he stands.
Zeeshan Wahla
Wahla said Merrifield’s language was unacceptable but said her post was a reaction to violence.
Difference between posts
David Eby
Eby pointed to Doerkson’s removal of candidate Joachim Agou and said Merrifield should also be removed.
Zeeshan Wahla
Wahla said Agou’s comments incited violence, while Merrifield was reacting to violence.
Either he removes her, or he very clearly would only remove a candidate where they didn’t stand a snowball’s chance in hell of winning
I was heartbroken, horrified, and angry
I want to be clear that the language used in Ms. Merrifield’s original post from several months ago was unacceptable
Now, he’s trying to remove our campaign manager because we are winning and he is losing
Rupert Lowe published the privately funded “Rape Gang Inquiry” report.
Merrifield first published her social media post about Islam.
Merrifield said she took down her original post.
Eby called on Doerkson to remove Merrifield during a campaign announcement on Vancouver Island.
- Campaign director
- Katy Merrifield
- Interim Conservative leader
- Lorne Doerkson
- Report author
- Rupert Lowe
- Report title
- Rape Gang Inquiry
- Post date
- June 17
Sources
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