TIMISKAMING-COCHRANE - A candidate in the Timiskaming-Cochrane race is facing criticism over resurfaced social media posts.
Liberal candidate Rick Ellsmere is under fire by the Ontario Progressive Conservatives for past social media posts that appear to mock women and the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
The provincial PC media team circulated an email on Tuesday sharing two posts from Ellsmere’s personal social media accounts.
A Facebook post from Aug. 23, 2015, featured a meme suggesting that the only thing men know about women is that they have breasts, accompanied by an image of Homer Simpson.
The second, a post from Ellsmere’s X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, account dated July 30, 2019, contained a comment on a transphobic post mocking a woman in a dress, insinuating that she had male genitals.
Ellsmere said he “regrets the hurtful comments” he made.
“I apologize. I am running for the Ontario Liberal Party because I want to support my community. I hope to earn my community’s trust so I can advocate for my riding,” he told TimminsToday.
In the last week, the PC media team has been resurfacing the social media activity of Liberal candidates.
Last week, misogynist tweets from Thunder Bay-Superior North candidate Brian Hamilton were at the heart of an attack campaign launched by the PCs against the Liberals.
“Ellsmere’s candidacy is just the latest addition to Bonnie Crombie’s ragtag and incomplete crew of controversial and disgraceful Liberal candidates,” reads the PC news release.
“Her roster includes individuals who have trivialized and downplayed sexual assault and date rape, made homophobic and racially insensitive remarks, and contemplated Hitler’s leadership capabilities. Yet Bonnie continues to stand by them.”
While the party is digging up dirt on other parties, PC candidates aren’t participating in local debates. In many cases, they are also not talking to media.
Leader Doug Ford has attended the two provincial debates, leaving both events before taking questions from reporters.
Election day is Feb. 27.
