Former UCP chair apologizes for racism tweet
Posted Jun 1, 2020 10:53:05 AM.
Last Updated Jun 2, 2020 05:03:33 PM.
CALGARY (660 NEWS) — After being heavily criticized for a tweet over the weekend, a founding member of the United Conservative Party (UCP) has issued an apology.
On Saturday, federal Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Ahmed Hussen tweeted about the anti-racist protests happening in the United States and said it is also a problem in Canada.
Anti-black racism does not stop at the border.
I have heard from people who have said that we should not worry about what is happening in the US because that is not our problem.
As a Black man & a father of 3 young boys, I can tell you it is a lived reality for Black Canadians.
— Ahmed Hussen (@HonAhmedHussen) May 31, 2020
In response, on Sunday Ed Ammar quote-tweeted Hussen and said: “Don’t bring this to Canada you f***in loser.”
A flood of responses criticized the tweet, leading to Ammar briefly suspending his account before reactivating it on Monday to issue an apology.
Yesterday I posted an ill thought out comment on Twitter. But let me try and explain… #ableg #cdnpoli #yeg pic.twitter.com/jIbfNuvcts
— Ed Ammar (@EdAmmar) June 1, 2020
Ammar said it was an “ill-thought-out comment” and he is sorry for how it was perceived, but added that Canada is overwhelmingly open and tolerant.
Detailing his past as an immigrant from Lebanon, Ammar said he has seen Canada have fewer problems than the United States and doesn’t want the two countries to be lumped together.
Ammar was the founding chairman of the UCP but failed in his bid to become an MLA for an Edmonton-area riding.