You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.
Amanda Zavitz/Facebook
Article content
The late withdrawal of a London-area NDP candidate who crashed out on the provincial election campaign trail over past comments about Black women may be spectacular – but it’s unlikely to really affect her riding’s race results.
Advertisement 2
Story continues below
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.
Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.
Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.
Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.
Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.
Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.
Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.
Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.
Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Access articles from across Canada with one account.
Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
Enjoy additional articles per month.
Get email updates from your favourite authors.
THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Access articles from across Canada with one account
Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments
Elgin-Middlesex-London, held by the Progressive Conservative since 2011, lost one candidate last week when New Democrat Amanda Zavitz announced she was quitting after comments she made in a lecture surfaced. Her name remains on the ballot for Thursday’s election.
Rob Flack, seeking re-election for the Tories, won with more than 50 per cent of the vote in the 2022 election, 33 percentage points ahead of his closest rival. One political observer says in that context, the exit of Zavitz will have little real effect.
“It wasn’t overly competitive (in 2022) and I suspect we wouldn’t see it be too competitive this time around either,” Fanshawe College political science instructor Matt Farrell said of the riding that takes in south London, St. Thomas and Elgin County.
Your Midday Sun
Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond.
By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.
Thanks for signing up!
A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.
The next issue of Your Midday Sun will soon be in your inbox.
We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again
Article content
Advertisement 3
Story continues below
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
A part-time professor of sociology at Western Universityand business owner, Zavitz’s resignation last week came a day after the Progressive Conservatives issued a statement quoting comments she made about her “secret desire” to be a Black woman.
“My secret is that I want to be a Black woman,” Zavitz, who is white, said in a video of her talk that’s been taken down from YouTube, “because I think Black is much more beautiful. The easy answer is that I want to be Bell Hooks (the penname of American author Gloria Jean Watkins), and Bell Hooks was a Black woman.”
Zavitz also said she wished she had lived-experience of poverty and addiction. The Tories accused Zavitz of “trivializing” the life experience of Black Ontarians.
Advertisement 4
Story continues below
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.
This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.