NDP stands by candidate despite his views
Pastor in Scarborough opposes same-sex marriage, abortion on biblical grounds
OTTAWA— The New Democrats are standing by a Toronto-area candidate who says he opposes abortion and same-sex marriage on biblical grounds.
“That is my personal life. My personal life is different from (the) party line, because when I stand by the party, I have to stand by the party,” Rev. K.M. Shanthikumar, a Christian pastor in the Tamil community and the NDP candidate in Scarborough— Rouge Park, told the Star Monday.
Brad Lavigne, a senior campaign adviser for the NDP, said Shanthikumar had signed a declaration required of all potential candidates that says he would acknowledge the party policy, in particular its position that women have the right to choose whether to terminate a pregnancy and that same-sex couples have the right to marry.
“The candidate in question was expressing personal beliefs and has clearly stated that those opinions that he holds on the matter of abor- tion and marriage equality are his personal views,” Lavigne said Tuesday.
“Despite any personal views, he has accepted the position of the party on those policy measures,” Lavigne said.
The Star approached both Shanthikumar and Lavigne for comment after a source provided a recording of a Sept. 8 telephone conversation in Tamil between him and the candidate. The source provided the recording on the condition that he not be named due to concerns he would face repercussions in the workplace.
The source, an experienced political operative who has previously been involved with the Liberals, said he has nothing to do with the current campaign at any level.
Liberal headquarters confirmed they were not behind this call.
During that conversation, Shanthikumar says he and other Christians in the NDP caucus who share his views against abortion and same-sex marriage could speak to Thomas Mulcair, the party leader, about it after the election.
“If I win, it will be easier. As a group, when we tell them, they definitely have to listen,” Shanthikumar says in the recording, which the Star translated into English.
The caller then asks him directly if he is against abortion and same-sex marriage.
“All that,” Shanthikumar says. “What is not in the Bible, what the Bible is against, I am against . . . What the Bible is against, I will be against.”
The recording, which is just under seven minutes long, also reveals the source told Shanthikumar he was a voter in the riding, a Christian who opposes changes to the Ontario sex education curriculum, abortion and same-sex marriage, but confirmed to the Star none of these things are true.
The source explained that he decided to secretly record Shanthikumar because he respects the NDP “for where they stand on fundamental rights” but had concerns about how they and other parties select and vet their candidates. Reached by telephone Monday morning, Shanthikumar said he is able to keep his personal beliefs separate from the NDP position and also denied telling the caller that he would advocate for those beliefs with Mulcair.
“I didn’t say that I will promote my party to accept it . . . nothing of the sort. All I said was whatever the party (position), I will stand by that,” said Shanthikumar, who is also a tele- communications worker and a cricket coach and umpire who once played on the Canadian national cricket team.
Nowhere in the recording of the conversation provided to the Star does Shanthikumar ever tell the caller he had signed a declaration saying he accepts NDP policy on these issues.
Lavigne, who had a Tamil-speaking member of the NDP legal team listen to the recording before he responded, said he was not concerned by Shanthikumar saying he would bring it up with Mulcair.
“All Members of Parliament can discuss matters with the leader at any time, but the New Democratic Party is unwavering in its commitment to a woman’s right to choose and to marriage equality,” Lavigne said.
Lavigne, who was made aware of the circumstances of the call, criticized the tactic.
“Attempting to besmirch the reputation of the reverend in this manner is beneath what voters deserve,” he said.
The other nominated candidates in Scarborough—Rouge Park are Liberal Gary Anandasangaree and Conservative Leslyn Lewis.