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

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.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

House peppered with bullets: Richmond RCMP

Mounties in Richmond are investigating separate, late-night shootings that have left a house, vehicle and garage peppered with bullets. A statement from R-C-M-P says the first shooting in the 6300 block of Chelmsford Street happened more than two weeks ago, on August 27th, and the second occurred on August 29th.

House peppered with bullets: Richmond RCMP

B.C. premier breaks ground on second hospital, cancer centre at cost of $2.88 billion

A long-awaited and often promised second hospital for the City of Surrey marked a milestone today with a groundbreaking ceremony promising the opening of the new facility by 2029. Premier David Eby says the start of construction on the new $2.88 billion hospital and cancer treatment centre is an anticipated and needed health-care expansion in one of British Columbia's fastest growing communities.

B.C. premier breaks ground on second hospital, cancer centre at cost of $2.88 billion

2 Canadian Sikhs sentenced for role in murder of man over drug debt

Andrew Baldwin, 30, who used and trafficked drugs, was stabbed to death on November 11, 2019, as he watched a movie with a friend in a basement apartment at Whalley in the Surrey city of British Columbia. While Jagpal Singh Hothi was charged with first-degree murder, his friend and accomplice Jasman Singh Basran, who tried to get rid of evidence, was charged with being an accessory, The Vancouver Sun newspaper reported on Monday.

2 Canadian Sikhs sentenced for role in murder of man over drug debt

One evacuation imposed, another dropped, as B.C. wildfires burn through September

The order is the only one issued in B.C. in the last 24 hours, but several other orders and alerts have been ended or downgraded over the same period, including orders covering 25 homes affected by the out-of-control McDougall Creek wildfire near West Kelowna.

One evacuation imposed, another dropped, as B.C. wildfires burn through September

Liberal MPs meet to prep for fall sitting, as Trudeau stares down slumping polls

Liberal MPs are gathering in London, Ont., to plan their strategy as the party grapples with rising discontentment toward Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Polls show the Liberals have sunken to their lowest levels of support since taking government in 2015, largely to the benefit of the Conservatives.

Liberal MPs meet to prep for fall sitting, as Trudeau stares down slumping polls

Canadian accused in U.S. of stealing cash using sleight-of-hand techniques

A Canadian man has been indicted in a U.S. federal court in St. Louis after being accused of using sleight-of-hand methods to steal more than $64,000 from more than 40 Walmart stores across the U.S. Thirty-seven-year-old Mohsen Akbari was indicted August 16th on one count of wire fraud and one count of interstate transportation of stolen property.