We’re in that magical interval between when parties choose their candidates and when that choice becomes official. Now is the time when politicians say embarrassing things and then suddenly decide to spend more time with their families.
One of these embarrassing things was from Ray Fox, the Liberal candidate for Battlefords-Lloydminster. It followed the usual pattern, a crude joke followed by a prompt dismissal. No different than in any other election in the past.
Three other resignations have been a little different. Gilles Guibord, Conservative candidate in Montreal, was found to have said racist and sexist things in internet comment sections in past years. Ala Buzreba, Liberal candidate in Calgary, was found to have written offensive tweets as a teenager. Morgan Wheeldon, NDP candidate in rural Nova Scotia, was found to have accused Israel of genocide in internet comments last year.
Of these three I think Ala’s story is the most interesting, because she was so young when she made those tweets. We’ve finally reached the point where there are candidates who have been broadcasting their private lives to the public, and it’s keeping them out of office.. The internet is forever, it seems. And the consequences of things said on the internet are also forever. It is beginning to appear that the real purpose of a blog is to make oneself unelectable. It remains to be seen how long this stays the case… surely once the candidates from all parties have committed the sin of being 17, that sin will no longer be considered unpardonable.
In any case that time has not yet arrived. For now, politics will heavily favour those who did all their growing up out of the public spotlight… and outside of any private spotlights that can readily be made public.
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