Smith says candidate who made trans feces comment won’t sit in caucus: ‘And that is final’

Five days after saying a United Conservative candidate who compared transgender students to feces in food could be given a second chance, leader Danielle Smith has repeated the candidate wouldn’t sit in caucus if her party forms government.

BACKGROUND: Alberta UCP candidate apologizes for comparing transgender children to feces

Questions are being raised again about Jennifer Johnson’s status as a UCP candidate after a social media post Tuesday night by someone from her constituency association suggested she’s still a member in good standing and could enter caucus in the near future.

The Facebook post was deleted and replaced with one from the constituency board that said the message was posted by a volunteer who does not reflect its views.

It says Smith has made it clear that Johnson would not sit in caucus if she’s elected Monday.

Smith was asked about Johnson during a news conference in Calgary and she said her decision is final – despite saying last Friday she believed in redemption and second chances.

“I’ve made it very clear,” said Smith. “I’ve made a decision. She will not be sitting with the UCP caucus.

“And that is final.”

NDP Leader Rachel Notley, who was also campaigning in Calgary Wednesday, said she did not believe Smith.

“It seems to me that the UCP itself is not clear about the position they will take on this,” said Notley. “Danielle Smith has actually changed positions on it a couple of times since the matter first arose. So I think we can conclude that we cannot count on the UCP to make the right decision. She should not be sitting in the legislature.

“I think it’s very likely that Danielle Smith will welcome Jennifer Johnson back into their caucus, notwithstanding the fact that she has articulated some of the most hurtful, hateful statements about some of the most vulnerable young children that we have seen in this province, ever.”

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RELATED: Alberta UCP candidate who made transphobic comments will not be in caucus: Smith

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Notley argues Smith allows people with extremist views to have a voice within the UCP.

“Jennifer Johnson is not the first candidate to articulate those opinions. And it’s very clear that the UCP that Danielle Smith is leading right now is not the same UCP that we had four years ago,” said Notley.

“That’s why she’s hedging because too many folks who share those offensive views, actually, unfortunately, have a place in the UCP right now.”

Dave Dale, who’s the NDP candidate for Lacombe-Ponoka, says Smith must permanently eject Johnson from the UCP.

“Jennifer Johnson’s bizarre and hateful views have no place in the legislature,” he said in a statement. “As a teacher myself, I can tell you that her comments put vulnerable children in danger. I can’t imagine the hurt for students who are being publicly compared to pieces of excrement.”

Audio surfaced last week from September 2022, before Johnson won the UCP nomination in Lacombe-Ponoka, with several homophobic and transphobic comments.

Johnson has apologized for the remarks, saying she’s embarrassed she caused hurt.