Party’s Leadership Election Organizing Committee (LEOC) Co-Chair Roxanne Helme and BC Liberal Party President Paul Barbeau said the Committee has declined to approve Aaron Gunn’s application to be a candidate in the ongoing BC Liberal leadership contest. However, the NDP said despite the rejection, the BC Liberal leadership candidates still haven’t condemned Gunn’s intolerance. Gunn holds anti-2SLGBTQ+ views and recently doubled down on his belief that teaching medical students to respect gender identities is “garbage political correctness.” 

By PD Raj – Senior Writer DESIBUZZCanada

VANCOUVER  - BC Liberal Party brass have rejected a extreme rightwing leadership candidate who the governing NDP called intolerant.

Party’s Leadership Election Organizing Committee (LEOC) Co-Chair Roxanne Helme and BC Liberal Party President Paul Barbeau said the Committee has declined to approve Aaron Gunn’s application to be a candidate in the ongoing BC Liberal leadership contest.

“The BC Liberal Party Executive has received and unanimously accepted LEOC’s decision.” Said LEOC Co-Chair Roxanne Helme.

"After a thorough review of Mr. Gunn's statements on social media, both public and private, and after having provided Mr. Gunn with the opportunity to respond to concerns raised by certain of those statements, LEOC concluded that to approve Mr. Gunn's candidacy would be inconsistent with the BC Liberal Party's commitment to reconciliation, diversity and acceptance of all British Columbians." Added Helme.

“Today, during a joint meeting of the Party Executive and the Leadership Election Organizing Committee, the party’s elected party executive unanimously accepted LEOC’s recommendation regarding Aaron Gunn’s candidate application. We thank LEOC for their work in this matter.” Said Party President Paul Barbeau.

However, the NDP said despite the rejection, the BC Liberal leadership candidates still haven’t condemned Gunn’s intolerance.

Gunn holds anti-2SLGBTQ+ views and recently doubled down on his belief that teaching medical students to respect gender identities is “garbage political correctness.” 

NDP charged that just this week, Kevin Falcon said he’d be comfortable with Aaron Gunn joining the leadership race. Michael Lee called for Gunn’s rejection. Ellis Ross called for his approval. 

The leadership election process will conclude on February 5, 2022. British Columbians have until 5:00 PM on December 17 to join the Party and be eligible to vote in the leadership race.

There are currently six official candidates in the race to become the next leader: Gavin Dew, Kevin Falcon, Michael Lee, Val Litwin, Ellis Ross, and Renee Merrifield.

No leadership contenders have said if other candidates with anti-2SLGBTQ+ views, like former MLA Laurie Throness and Margaret Kunst (who voted against a rainbow crosswalk), are part of their vision for the party, the NDP said. 

Throness defended the practice of “conversion therapy” on 2SLGBTQ+ kids last summer. He was approved to run in 2020 despite his comments. 

The BC Liberals’ internal campaign review explained that anti-2SLGBTQ+ views are traditionally permitted in the party because: “There is a belief, correct or otherwise, that alienating socially conservative Christian voters will make it impossible to assemble a winning coalition.”