Surrey Liberal candidate apologizes for sharing racially-insensitive cartoon

SURREY (NEWS 1130) – Another B.C. Liberal candidate has landed in hot water, this time for sharing a racially-insensitive image on Facebook.

Marvin Hunt, who is the party’s candidate in Surrey-Cloverdale and the incumbent in that riding, is apologizing after he was called out for a cartoon with an inappropriate portrayal of two Indigenous people.

NDP candidate Melanie Mark, who is running for re-election in Vancouver-Mount Pleasant, tweeted at Hunt on Wednesday asking why he posted the image, especially on Orange Shirt Day.

Asking him to explain the cartoon on his Facebook timeline, Mark asked “What’s the punchline? It’s obviously not related to #OrangeShirtDay2020.”

Orange Shirt Day is an occasion to remember the victims and families of Canada’s residential school system.

Hunt replied to the tweet on Thursday, apologizing unreservedly.

“It shouldn’t have happened. I wish to apologize for any hurt it may have caused you or others,” Hunt wrote to Mark.

This isn’t the first time a B.C. Liberal candidate has been put in the hot seat in recent weeks. On Tuesday, the NDP called for the Liberals to fire Margaret Kunst, their candidate in Langley East, after she had voted against a rainbow crosswalk in the township in her capacity as a city councillor.

Her vote came the same day she was appointed by the party. Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson said on Tuesday that he was sticking by Kunst, claiming the vote was one of “procedure,” and that Kunst shares his values and agrees there is “no room for discrimination.”

The B.C. Liberals have also come under fire for other issues related to the LGBTQ community. The party was blasted earlier this year for advertising in a conservative Christian magazine that defended conversion therapy.

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