Concerns raised over comments referencing Muslims reposted by Tory leadership hopeful

The sculpture titled "The Golden Boy" tops the exterior of the Manitoba Legislature in Winnipeg, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

WINNIPEG — One of the two candidates for the leadership of the Manitoba Progressive Conservatives is under fire over a social media post that referred to his opponent’s Muslim faith.

Wally Daudrich’s campaign Facebook page reposted another person’s post that referred to attacks on Jews, called for people to support Daudrich, and contained the words “we must stop Muslim Obby Khan from becoming the Conservative leader.”

Daudrich’s campaign manager says the message was reposted by a staff member who did not notice the wording, and the post was taken down as soon as it was brought to the team’s attention.

The National Council of Canadian Muslims is calling on Daudrich to issue a public apology.

Officials at the provincial Progressive Conservative party are asking Daudrich to clear the air.

The Tories, who are in Opposition after losing the 2023 election, are to elect a new leader April 26.

“It is a principle of the P.C. Party that membership and participation in the party is open to all Manitobans regardless of religion and the leadership election committee strongly disavows any suggestion to the contrary,” committee chair Brad Zander said in a written statement Wednesday.

“The (committee) has no reason to believe the post wasn’t inadvertent. However given the nature of Mr. Daudrich’s repost content, the (committee) has asked that Mr. Daudrich confirm his commitment to the principle that membership and participation in the party is open to Manitobans regardless of their religion.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 15, 2025

Steve Lambert, The Canadian Press