Ontario NDP Candidate Amanda Zavitz Drops Out of Election Over Controversial Comments

Image credits: (Ontario NDP)

An Ontario NDP candidate has dropped out of the election after making comments that sparked widespread controversy and criticism from the community. Amanda Zavitz, who was running in the riding of Elgin-Middlesex-London, announced her resignation on Facebook, stating that her past comments were distracting from the critical task of defeating Doug Ford and electing an Ontario NDP government. The comments in question were made at a conference last year, where Zavitz expressed a desire to be a Black woman, citing her admiration for the experiences and perspectives of Black women. However, her words were met with outrage and accusations of trivializing the life experiences of Black Ontarians.

The controversy began when a video of Zavitz's speech at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women conference in New York City was surfaced by the Progressive Conservative Party campaign. In the video, Zavitz recalls an exercise she participated in 10 years prior, where she was asked to write down her deep-rooted secrets. She revealed that her secret was to be a Black woman, stating that she wanted to know all that she knows and be an expert in inequality with lived experiences of poverty and living in addiction and alcoholism. Zavitz's comments were widely criticized, with many accusing her of appropriation and insensitivity towards the Black community.

NDP Leader Marit Stiles denounced Zavitz's comments, calling them "deeply concerning" and stating that she had apologized. However, Stiles did not say whether she would remove Zavitz as a candidate. The Ontario NDP also faced pressure to drop Zavitz, with many calling for her resignation. Ultimately, Zavitz decided to step down, citing the distraction her comments had caused and the need to focus on the election. Her resignation has left six candidates vying for the seat in the riding of Elgin-Middlesex-London, which was won by Progressive Conservative candidate Rob Flack in the 2022 election.

The incident has sparked a wider conversation about diversity and inclusion in politics, with many calling for greater awareness and understanding of the experiences of marginalized communities. The Ontario NDP has also faced criticism for its handling of the situation, with some accusing the party of not doing enough to address the concerns of the Black community. The party has since announced that it will be reviewing its nomination process to ensure that candidates are properly vetted and that the party is better equipped to handle situations like this in the future.

In the wake of Zavitz's resignation, the Ontario NDP has also highlighted the donations made by Ontario Liberal candidates to provincial and federal conservative campaigns. The party has accused the Liberals of hypocrisy, citing the donations as evidence of the party's lack of commitment to progressive values. The Liberals, meanwhile, are facing pressure to drop their Oshawa candidate over offensive social media posts he made about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and a Sikh leader who was killed in Canada. The deadline for nominations has passed, meaning that candidates who drop out cannot be replaced, and the election is set to proceed with the remaining candidates.