Close X
Friday, November 29, 2024
ADVT 
National

Eby says deputy leader fired by BC Greens made 'reprehensible' attack on Bonnie Henry

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 09 Nov, 2023 02:48 PM
  • Eby says deputy leader fired by BC Greens made 'reprehensible' attack on Bonnie Henry

Premier David Eby says social media behaviour that got the BC Green Party's deputy leader fired represents a "reprehensible" attack on provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry. 

Dr. Sanjiv Gandhi has also resigned as a Green candidate in the 2024 provincial election after liking a social media post that compared Henry to Josef Mengele, an infamous Nazi doctor who experimented on concentration camp victims during the Second World War.

Gandhi says the like was inadvertent, but Eby says it was an "awful" attack, and he applauded Green leader Sonia Furstenau for making the "difficult but necessary" decision to fire her deputy.

Furstenau says Gandhi's actions were "unacceptable" and she accepted his resignation as the Green candidate in the newly formed provincial riding of Vancouver-Renfrew.

Gandhi says in a statement that he accidentally liked the post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, and he only realized his "blunder" on Wednesday and has now unliked the post.

He says he agrees with Furstenau that stepping away from his role with the party is the best course of action.

"As the subject of considerable racism in my life, I know that words matter, and I do not condone the belittling or demonization of any group of people for any reason, including those based on race or religion," the statement says, adding he is sorry for any harm he has caused.

Gandhi, the former chief of cardiac surgery at BC Children’s Hospital, left his post last December and was named deputy Green leader in January.

He announced his intention to run for the Greens just two months ago in the redrawn riding that covers most of the Vancouver-Kingsway constituency currently held by B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix.

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C. to end state of emergency as wildfire risk winds down

B.C. to end state of emergency as wildfire risk winds down
The British Columbia government says it is ending the state of emergency imposed last month when thousands of residents were chased out of their homes by wildfires.  The government says in a statement the wildfire risk is diminishing in much of the province as temperatures cool, allowing most residents to return home. 

B.C. to end state of emergency as wildfire risk winds down

DNA match in Ibrahim Ali murder case as exact as identical twins, B.C. court is told

DNA match in Ibrahim Ali murder case as exact as identical twins, B.C. court is told
An RCMP expert testifying at Ibrahim Ali's murder trial told the court she has never seen a DNA match as close as the one between the suspect and samples found on his alleged victim — except for DNA matches between identical twins. Forensic biologist Christine Crossman said police investigators were very thorough in their collection and testing of genetic samples from the body of the 13-year-old girl, whose identity is protected by a publication ban.

DNA match in Ibrahim Ali murder case as exact as identical twins, B.C. court is told

Ex-B.C. police chief to investigate release of suspect before Chinatown stabbing

Ex-B.C. police chief to investigate release of suspect before Chinatown stabbing
Former Abbotsford police chief Bob Rich has been appointed to look into the release of a man from British Columbia's psychiatric hospital before the man allegedly stabbed three people in Vancouver's Chinatown. Premier David Eby said Thursday that he has read the BC Review Board report on the accused and wants Rich to determine how the man could have been released, despite being a "really significant danger to the public." 

Ex-B.C. police chief to investigate release of suspect before Chinatown stabbing

Federal government will remove GST on new rental housing builds, senior source says

Federal government will remove GST on new rental housing builds, senior source says
A senior government source says Ottawa is planning to remove the G-S-T on construction of new rental apartment buildings. The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to make the announcement today as he wraps up a three-day Liberal caucus retreat in London, Ontario.

Federal government will remove GST on new rental housing builds, senior source says

B.C. Sikh referendum will ask if Indian diplomat was responsible for Nijjar killing

B.C. Sikh referendum will ask if Indian diplomat was responsible for Nijjar killing
The group Sikhs for Justice, which has been staging a series of non-binding votes in several countries on the independence issue, says the first stage of balloting in B.C. on Sunday attracted more than 135,000 voters. It says the second stage will be held on Oct. 29 and will add a second question about whether High Commissioner Sanjay Verma was responsible for the "assassination" of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

B.C. Sikh referendum will ask if Indian diplomat was responsible for Nijjar killing

All former youth in care in B.C. now eligible for education tuition waivers: minister

All former youth in care in B.C. now eligible for education tuition waivers: minister
British Columbia has expanded its tuition waiver program to include all former youth in government care enrolling in post-secondary education. Selina Robinson, post-secondary education and future skills minister, says the program is no longer capped at the student's 27th birthday.

All former youth in care in B.C. now eligible for education tuition waivers: minister