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Amy Labonte and NDP Leader Kate White
Comments were ‘serious and hurtful,’ White says
Some embarrassing and offensive tweets from a Yukon NDP candidate are causing problems for the party and its campaign.
Some embarrassing and offensive tweets from a Yukon NDP candidate are causing problems for the party and its campaign.
“I’m not having a very good day,” NDP Leader Kate White told the Star this morning. “The comments were hurtful, and they hurt people.”
CBC Yukon first reported on the tweets over the past few years by Amy Labonte, the NDP’s candidate in Watson Lake.
Labonte had also tried unsuccessfully to run in the Whitehorse Centre riding before switching.
The tweet called for the assassination of then-U.S. president Donald Trump. Those were posted about two years ago.
Earlier tweets on her account made derogatory references to gay people and Sikhs.
White told the Star she would hold a meeting of party officials to discuss the situation at noon today, and might have further comments to make afterward.
The NDP made a decision before that time. The following statement was issued at noon:
“Following a long conversation, Amy and I have agreed that she should withdraw her name from the election in Watson Lake,” it quoted White as saying.
“These comments are serious and hurtful, and they need a serious response. I know that these comments coming up today are hurting people today, no matter when they were originally said, and it’s why this is the right path forward.
“I know Amy is a strong person who has and will continue to make many contributions to the Yukon, and in the fight against Cystic Fibrosis. I know she deeply regrets these comments, and would not make them today,” White said.
In the same statement, Labonte issued her own apology.
“A number of past posts I’ve made on social media have been circulating with the media,” she said.
“I want to take responsibility for these comments. Some of these comments were racist and ableist, and they are not acceptable.
“I’ve changed a lot since these comments were made, and they aren’t comments I would make today. Regardless of when the posts were made, the fact is that I made these comments and put them out in the world.
“No matter how I feel about them today, I cannot erase them, no matter how regretful I feel,” said the now-former candidate.
“I helped contribute to a conversation online that hurt people, and I deeply regret this. And today, these comments are creating a conversation that is louder than the one we are trying to have about helping people and making life better for Yukoners.
“I had a conversation with Kate, our leader, and we agreed that it would be best for me to withdraw my name,” Labonte said.
That decision stands in contrast to White’s comments to the CBC on Tuesday.
In those interviews, she indicated only that she would “speak” to Labonte, who she still supported as an NDP candidate.
The party advised the Star early this afternoon it will not comment on the processes it uses to vet potential candidates.
A story on p. 2 reports the NDP as fielding a full slate of 19 candidates. That page was finalized before Labonte’s departure from the April 12 election campaign.
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Comments (34)
Up 0 Down 0
M.C on Apr 12, 2021 at 7:27 pm
If these comments were 10+ years ago I might give a pass but she's still currently like that in RL and the comments have come as early as a couple months ago. If you look at her feed in the way back machine on the internet, you can delete your posts but the internet never forgets..... they're just trying to play what's hip, making anti gay comments then trying to be all proactive with (she/her) in their profile and trying to make it SJW friendly for election.
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Max Mack on Mar 30, 2021 at 4:44 pm
Is it a shame that cancel culture has come to dominate the Yukon.
If the only people that are allowed into politics or any position of authority are the "clean" and the "cleansed", I say our society is in very deep trouble.
Once upon a time, society was dominated by the Catholic Church and other religious institutions and those in power dared not speak out of line. Now, society is controlled by the insane SJWs and their "progressive" siblings and those who seek to be in power better not speak out of line.
Equally shameful is that the CBC, who broke this story, thought it was important for them to dredge up questionable posts from several years ago and to publicly name and shame a fellow Yukoner who is known to have a quirky and edgy personality.
Who was the CBC doing this dirty work for?
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Samwise Steele on Mar 26, 2021 at 9:38 am
First scandal of the campaign, woo!
We deserve a show, folks. That’s about all these candidates are good for. Kate wasn’t going to get rid of Amy at first - she likely weighed the PR damage against the zero chance they have of winning the beautiful town of Watson Lake - McLeod has that locked down.
Cathers needs to be questioned on his travel spending. He’s fleecing us for trips to Whitehorse. There’s no way so many trips were for work.
Let’s enjoy the drama while it lasts. It has been a boring year. Maybe some misconduct will surface.
Up 26 Down 14
DA on Mar 26, 2021 at 9:03 am
Brian Melanson, regarding your comment: "Anyone else who does would not in their right mind vote for this party", I would say that you live in a very black and white world. If someone doesn't agree with you, they are completely wrong and you are completely right. Don't get me wrong, I ain't voting for NDP, but I can also respect other people's reasons for voting NDP, even if I don't agree with those reasons.
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JSM on Mar 25, 2021 at 2:10 pm
I have to add that anyone who couldn't control themselves in 2019 won't be able to control themselves now. It's time the members grow up a bit.
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Juniper Jackson on Mar 25, 2021 at 2:04 pm
Integrity, doing the right thing all the time because it's the right thing to do. Today, you just can't go around publicly targeting a group or race, or wishing death on anyone. People probably do privately, but they are smart enough not to make it public. Especially on the internet where nothing ever completely disappears. Someone somewhere will have a copy.
Kate is pretty down to earth. She is going to work every day in work clothes, her face washed. She isn't putting on 'airs' or any I'm better than you are crap. Her staff call her Kate, not Yes mam, No Sir. She says what she thinks, I have never known her to be hurtful about anyone. Too bad she is NDP. Federally, the party is in trouble.
She did the right thing here.
Up 69 Down 9
Par for the course on Mar 25, 2021 at 2:02 pm
This isn't some "two years ago" thing as some people are saying. You can read her Twitter and see her wishing the virus killed someone she disagreed with.
Just two months ago, she admonished Premier Silver for not making YP MLA Patti McLeod do more for Watson Lake, in *both* of her terms (you know, before the Liberal premier was even premier, and they're in different parties...).
The fact that the Yukon NDP thought this person was candidate material shows the complete lack of options or standards.
Up 18 Down 33
Politico on Mar 25, 2021 at 1:16 pm
@ DA
Are you kidding me. Is this the new stance of the CONservatives, we never tell a lie. How many threats and investigations into threats against Rachel Notley?
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/rcmp-should-investigate-threats-against-women-politicians-afl-says-1.3646735
Evidence enough for you. That's just one google.
Here's another https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mps-staff-online-hate-security-measures-1.5347221
Really!!
Up 72 Down 18
Groucho d'North on Mar 25, 2021 at 9:33 am
This is a good case study on public approval and who gets extraordinary treatment. Ms. Labonte made some indiscreet comments on social media some years ago and is now paying a career price for her bad choices.
Meanwhile back in Ottawa our clown prince PM gets away with wearing blackface a few times, sexually assaults a female reporter who 'experienced the situation differently' and numerous other faux pas situations that others would be condemned for, yet he gets away with it.
There should be one set of performance standards for every politician in the country - and the same consequences for those who violate those standards.
Up 68 Down 14
Brian Melanson on Mar 25, 2021 at 5:01 am
@Just saying’
Ahh, she’s not being accused, she actually Tweetered those comments. And isn’t willing to own it.
So, she would have changed so much in the last 2 years.... Yeah, Right.
This NDP party is not in touch with the working class. I bust my balls at work to provide for my family. Anyone else who does would not in their right mind vote for this party. At All!!!
Up 40 Down 48
Cameron on Mar 25, 2021 at 3:07 am
Kate White is a breathe of fresh air - no cover up or rationalization for bad behaviour. It was wrong and there are consequences. This is leadership and integrity - nothing like we have had for the last four years. How many times did Premiere Silver make excuses for bad behaviour ? How many times did the Liberal government get caught in a lie and instead of owning it they said “we were given inaccurate information” but then did not hold the culprits accountable? Too many times - Ministers Frost, Mostyn, McPhee and the Premiere never showed this type of honesty and integrity.
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Worse than tweets on Mar 24, 2021 at 11:59 pm
Yes these tweets were inappropriate. But you want to know what's worse? Fleecing the taxpayer. While it may be legal, it is CERTAINLY not moral to do what Brad Cathers has been doing while MLA in Lake Laberge.
He claimed almost $25,000 last year for gas and lunch money for his commute from Laberge to Whitehorse. That was for 223 trips apparently. There is no way he had to make that many trips into town (he claimed 69 trips in the month of May alone) so he was obviously making the drive in so he could make money. How many other people in Lake Laberge travel back and forth for work every day but don't get their food and gas paid for?!
I could be off here, but from what I can tell, he has claimed about $209,000 for gas and food since first being elected many years ago. Does Currie Dixon think it's ok for Brad's gravy train to keep chugging along using tax payers money? Maybe someone should ask him.
Anyways, don't take my word for all this, check it out yourself here: https://yukonassembly.ca/sites/default/files/inline-files/sp-34-3-33-TravelReport2019-20.pdf
Up 44 Down 7
Ginger Johnson on Mar 24, 2021 at 10:48 pm
I am amazed at how stupid people continue to be.
NEVER use your real mane on these Internet platforms.
Up 19 Down 33
Allan Stanley on Mar 24, 2021 at 10:45 pm
HMMM !
The Pasloski Redux Gang has yet another party hopper.
The Silver Stars have a double dipper.
The Not New Party has a TWITTER idiot.
I WANT TO VOTE FOR THE GREEN PARTY !
Up 9 Down 43
too bad on Mar 24, 2021 at 9:59 pm
Two years ago Amy and half the western world said something hurtful and derogatory toward someone. This is why so many good people won't run for politics. Donald Trump was busy telling people to 'beat the hell out of them! I'll pay your legal bills!' and 'I could shoot someone on 5th Avenue and I would not lose a vote!' when Amy mused about hoping he got assassinated.
She's a bit older now and has changed, but we can't let people change, right? Not if we are the pure NDP. Eating their own, again.
Up 42 Down 9
Moose101 on Mar 24, 2021 at 9:36 pm
Well I don’t agree with her comments but it seems here in the Yukon we can have convicted criminals even become premier. Dennis Fente did 17 months in a federal prison back in the 70s for trafficking heron and still ran, got elected and became premier. He changed so I guess he had some good spot remover.
Up 18 Down 31
Woodcutter on Mar 24, 2021 at 8:32 pm
Tempest in a tea pot. I lost count on how many times the right wing nuts said similar things about liberals.
This is politics and you need a thick skin - and besides I bet the vast majority of people on the globe at one time or another had similar thoughts.
Get over it, cancel culture is alive with the deplorables as well.
Up 9 Down 15
TheHammer on Mar 24, 2021 at 5:48 pm
Shoot first and ask questions later, the American way.
Up 32 Down 12
Experience: Needed on Mar 24, 2021 at 5:33 pm
Ahhh here we go...
The NDP: Our Island of Misfit Toys
The Yukon Party: Let’s tell everyone how crummy everyone else is, but not actually tell anyone what we’ll actually do and not just promise. And a leader who has had what, two jobs in his lifetime?
Yukon Liberals: Paddling a sinking ship it feels like.
What are Yukoners to do amidst the daily pledges of programs where money appears to fall from the sky to fund them, but no clear plan or accountability, or real ability to truly deliver. Find a candidate who will truly uphold their ‘promises,’ and who will listen and be the voice for the whole, regardless of what party colour they represent. Now, where to find them...
Up 24 Down 18
bonanzajoe on Mar 24, 2021 at 5:18 pm
Not a Dipper: 500,000 deaths caused by DTs policies, fueling race wars, promoting lawlessness and hate? You really have to do some real research instead of just reading left wing news media. All those things are lies. So, Dipper, don't run for politics in the future. The truth always catches up eventually.
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martin on Mar 24, 2021 at 5:03 pm
@JSM: I don't think the "progressive one" was racist; she was extremist to the point of heartache.
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@JustSayin on Mar 24, 2021 at 4:58 pm
I agree in general that people should be given the benefit of the doubt and change with time, but scroll through her Twitter last year if you think that applies in this case.
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Just Sayin' on Mar 24, 2021 at 4:49 pm
Al,
I'm a little more optimistic regarding a person's ability to change. While I agree it was best for this candidate to step down, I wouldn't assume that she's the "same leopard" as she was. I can't really know for sure, and so I give her the benefit of the doubt. I'm pretty sure you would appreciate the benefit of the doubt if you were being accused of something.
Up 41 Down 39
DA on Mar 24, 2021 at 4:38 pm
Dear Politico,
What have the conservatives said about "leftist"?
Proof? Source? Verification? Documentation?
Didn't happen unless you have any of the above.
Up 61 Down 64
Not a Dipper on Mar 24, 2021 at 4:32 pm
Great to see Kate make a swift ruling on this.
Many wouldn't disagree with Labonte's stance on the former President given the almost 500,000 deaths caused by his policies down there and him fueling race wars, lawlessness and hate that will last decades but not many of us took the time to release those thoughts on social media.
Let this be a lesson to the social media generation; you are free to say whatever you want but there are consequences to those words. What you think is cool now is likely going to be 'cringe' in a couple years and may even be a huge embarrassment to you, your family and community. She has certainly closed a bunch of doors for herself with a passing thought.
Up 71 Down 42
John on Mar 24, 2021 at 4:21 pm
The NDP are turning into a bit of cult around Kate, don't seem to actually care about their candidates just support the leader and make sure nothing lands on Kate. Compared to the past that several of our prominent politicians (and premiers) have overcome a few tweets is nothing.
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wow on Mar 24, 2021 at 4:07 pm
Wow. Actual consequence in society these days? Say it ain't so!
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Changed A Lot on Mar 24, 2021 at 3:43 pm
Trump wasn't the only person she wished death on.
I almost feel bad writing about her. If you read her posts, she is clearly not well. Unfortunately, she decided to run for public office, where it becomes our right to scrutinize her more closely. And unfortunately, the Yukon NDP decided to support her without doing due diligence (or perhaps even quietly supporting her if the press didn't make a big deal of it).
The NDP brought this on themselves by failing to protect both their brand's integrity and this individual from public humiliation. Yukoners, though, have been spared the small risk of someone not fit for power gaining any sort of it.
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--- and another major problem with the NDP on Mar 24, 2021 at 3:35 pm
In order to win the election by having the most candidates, they didn't vet anyone. When you look at the resumes of their candidates, you realize the majority fit the moniker of SWF or SJW. There is a serious disconnect from the reality the MAJORITY of Yukoners are living and the platform this party is running is very isolationist. The NDP candidates past mentioned in the above story is very sordid.
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Matthew on Mar 24, 2021 at 3:28 pm
Whats that old saying " sticks and stones can break my bones but names will never hurt me"... not a single person has a life that is 100% non hurtful to someone somehow, I say grow up and move on.
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AL on Mar 24, 2021 at 3:15 pm
The old saying always stands true - "you can erase the spots on a leopard but it is still a leopard". It is clearly evident that Labonte falls into this category. These events occurred over the course of "at least" ten years, never mind what was said in private to other people.
Candidates need to be above such behaviour - regardless of political affiliation. Chapter closed.
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Groucho d'North on Mar 24, 2021 at 3:08 pm
The problem with principles is they apply all the time to all situations, not just when it is convienient to a purpose.
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JSM on Mar 24, 2021 at 3:03 pm
So much for the "progressive" NDP. Even Communists can be racist.
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Politico on Mar 24, 2021 at 3:01 pm
No worse than what the conservatives say about leftist but they don't have to resign.