Weir intends to seek the NDP nomination
MP says he has completed sensitivity training and is working on social skills
Regina-lewvan MP Erin Weir is committed to running for the NDP in the next federal election — even if the party won’t let him do so.
Weir was banished from the federal NDP caucus and barred by national NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh from running under the federal party banner in any election. In a letter to Weir last week, Singh said he isn’t confident the Saskatchewan MP wouldn’t repeat the harassing behaviour that got him kicked out of the NDP caucus last spring. Singh rejected the MP’S request to be readmitted to the NDP caucus and said he won’t approve Weir’s candidacy for the 2019 election.
But the MP is not accepting that answer.
“I believe that the local NDP membership should ultimately decide who to nominate as our candidate,” he told the Leaderpost on Thursday.
After a complaint was made against Weir earlier this year, an investigation was launched. It found one claim of harassment and three claims of sexual harassment against Weir were sustained — all of which were deemed to be “on the less serious end of the spectrum,” involving the MP standing too close or failing to read nonverbal cues in social settings.
Weir offered his apology to “those who felt uncomfortable” on Thursday, saying, “their feelings are valid.”
“I have completed sensitivity training to help me be more attentive to non-verbal cues. I’ve also reflected on how to have frank debates, that are fundamentally important in politics, in ways that do not make anyone uncomfortable,” he said, adding he recognizes he has at times been “slow to pick up on some social cues, so I think that is where I went wrong.”
He still has support locally, notably from 67 former New Democrat MPS and MLAS from Saskatchewan. They wrote to all NDP members of Parliament, accusing Singh of denying Weir due process and unfairly maligning his character, while flouting the party’s constitutional rules for dealing with harassment complaints.
At a barbecue attended by roughly 100 supporters last weekend, a group of six showed up to protest Weir and call for his resignation.
Weir said he will respect the decision of Regina-lewvan New Democrats if they choose to nominate someone else, but said, “At the end of the day the way to determine whether or not I have the support of local New Democrats is to hold an open nomination vote.”
If the NDP blocks his nomination, Weir said, he will consult with his local riding association and consider running as an independent candidate.
Weir said Thursday he has, “never been tested for, or diagnosed with, autism.” Asked if he has been criticized before for his social behaviour, Weir said he was bullied in school, “for being a bit different.”