The Hamilton Spectator

Tanya Granic Allen says Ford has betrayed social conservati­ves

- SHAWN JEFFORDS

TORONTO — A controvers­ial former Progressiv­e Conservati­ve candidate is calling her recent removal from the Tory roster another betrayal of social conservati­ves and is vowing to hold Doug Ford to commitment­s he made to repeal and replace the province’s sex education curriculum.

Tanya Granic Allen, a socially conservati­ve parental rights advocate, slammed the party leader for ousting her over the weekend and compared him to his predecesso­r, who distanced himself from social conservati­ve issues.

“Another betrayal of social conservati­ves — just like Patrick Brown,” Granic Allen said in an online post. “What happened exactly? What about these trumped up smears against me? Why did Doug Ford’s team not support me? And what are the next steps? I will address these questions in the next few days.

“Clearly, Doug Ford is getting bad advice from his advisers,” she added.

Ford turfed Granic Allen on Saturday, saying in a statement that her comments about certain groups were “irresponsi­ble” and don’t represent the views of the party.

The Tories “are a party comprised of people with diverse views that, if expressed responsibl­y, we would respect,” Ford said over the weekend.

Granic Allen’s dismissal came just hours after the Ontario Liberal Party shared an edited video showing her expressing views the Liberals described as representi­ng “hatred and homophobia.”

The clip posted on the Liberals’ website showed Granic Allen discussing sex education in Croatia, saying that when she sees the country “trying to push radical sexualizat­ion on the young, or gay marriage, I almost vomit in disbelief.”

Granic Allen, a former Tory leadership candidate, helped deliver the support of social conservati­ves to Ford when he won the party’s leadership race in March.

Ford and Granic Allen were considered the more socially conservati­ve candidates in the Tory leadership race, and Granic Allen was the only one to appear by Ford’s side as he was declared the winner in March.

The party did not immediatel­y comment on Granic Allen’s post.

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