The Liberal candidate running against NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh in the Burnaby byelection has bowed out of the race after singling out Singh鈥檚 ethnicity in an online post.
Liberal Karen Wang has dropped out of the Burnaby South byelection. Photo by Jennifer Gauthier/Burnaby Now.
Karen Wang apologized on Wednesday for the comments, saying that the diverse character of Burnaby South is a real source of strength.
鈥淚n trying to speak about my own story and the importance of people of all different backgrounds getting involved in this important byelection, I made comments online that also referenced Jagmeet Singh鈥檚 cultural background,鈥� she said in a statement.
鈥淢y choice of words wasn鈥檛 well-considered and didn鈥檛 reflect my intent, and for that, I sincerely apologize to Mr. Singh. I have deep respect for him as the leader of his party and for his public service聽鈥� and I would never want to diminish that in any way.鈥�
StarMetro 麻豆传媒映画reported that Wang wrote on Chinese social media platform WeChat that she was the 鈥渙nly鈥� Chinese candidate in the riding, rather than Singh, who she identified as 鈥渙f Indian descent.鈥�
She said after consideration with her supporters, she has decided to step aside as the Liberal candidate in the byelection.
鈥淚 believe in the progress that Justin Trudeau and the Liberal team are making for British Columbians and all Canadians, and I do not wish for any of my comments to be a distraction in that work,鈥� she said.
Singh said in a statement on聽Wednesday, before Wang dropped out, that he intends to represent everyone in the riding regardless of their background.
鈥淲e believe everyone brings something to the table and as a community we are better for it,鈥� he said.
鈥淲hile there are real differences in people鈥檚 experiences, I have dedicated much of my work over the years to find the common threads that unite us all. My mother taught me we are all connected and every day I try to live by her words.鈥�
The Liberal Party of Canada released a statement saying Wang鈥檚 online comments are not aligned with the party鈥檚 values and it has accepted her resignation.
鈥淛ustin Trudeau and the Liberal Party of Canada have always stood for the full and equal participation of all Canadians in our democracy, regardless of their background. The Liberal Party has a clear commitment to positive politics and support for Canadian diversity, and the same is always expected of our candidates,鈥� it said.
Elections Canada said the deadline for candidates to enter the byelection race is Feb. 4.
Conservative candidate Jay Shin and People鈥檚 Party of Canada candidate Laura-Lynn Tyler Thompson are also challenging Singh as he runs for his first seat in the House of Commons.
The聽2016 census of the riding shows about 42,000 people identified as ethnically Chinese, while 9,270 people聽 said they聽were South Asian聽and another 455 identified as Punjabi, out of a total population of 111,000 people.
Singh聽is Sikh and speaks Punjabi.
Wang is the owner of a daycare business and聽ran unsuccessfully聽in the 2017 provincial election for the B.C. Liberals.
In the Liberal nomination for the聽byelection, Wang聽defeated biotechnology scientist Cyrus Eduljee, after 123 members cast ballots at a nomination meeting last month.
鈥� With files from Mia Rabson in Ottawa
