NPA facing major criticism for ‘homophobic’ candidate

The Non-Partisan Association is facing harsh criticism after announcing its candidate for Vancouver mayor Tuesday.

Former West Vancouver police officer Fred Harding has taken the place of Park Board Commissioner, and previous NPA candidate, John Coupar who resigned from the party’s candidacy on Aug. 4.

However, since the announcement, people are focusing on comments Harding made when he ran for Vancouver 1st in 2018, calling him a homophobe for being against school-based resources to help teachers and students with issues of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI).

Before the video gets taken down: here’s the @NPAVancouver‘s new mayoral candidate Fred Harding on SOGI – a policy that protects every student from bullying and discrimination, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Source: https://t.co/UOq3qita9G #vanpoli pic.twitter.com/0XC5Bze3Hi

— Peter Meiszner ABC candidate for council 裴智勵/裴智励 (@PeterMeiszner) August 30, 2022

In a campaign video from 2018, Harding says SOGI curriculum “got it all wrong.”

“Vancouver 1st is opposed to this high-handed rollout. We will advocate on behalf of parents who feel alienated by it,” he said.

In the same video, Harding goes on to say SOGI curriculum was implemented without meaningful consultation with parents, leaving them alienated.

“Vancouver 1st will defend Vancouver communities, parents and guardians who demand more control over the education of their loved ones,” he said.

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“The province has its jurisdiction, our job is to advocate for our citizens,” he explained. “We’ve been listening to furious homeowners and concerned and alienated parents. And I’m here to tell you that I will stand up for you and push back against an overreaching province.”

Advocates and members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community are now calling the party to explain why they chose Harding, and if they support those views.

Vancouver city council candidate Peter Meiszner, running as part of the ABC Vancouver team, wrote on Twitter Tuesday that instead, Harding is more concerned with protecting furious homeowners than “supporting a policy that protects queer students.”

If you’re a member of the @NPAVancouver and you support Fred Harding for Mayor you are a HOMOPHOBE. pic.twitter.com/UtvwTH10bc

— drex (@drex) August 30, 2022

While Jack 96.9 (CJAX-FM) DJ Drex (Justin Wilcomes) wrote on Twitter that no city in the Lower Mainland “should EVER have anyone running for public office who has even the remotest anti-2SLGBTQI+ views.”

Meanwhile, former NPA president and city councillor Tung Chan says he is “extremely disappointed” in the candidacy announcement.

“I am extremely disappointed to see this once proud civic party had to go to the bottom of the barrel to find such a woefully unqualified person as their mayoral candidate,” Chan wrote on Twitter Wednesday.

As a former President of NPA, I am extremely disappointed to see this once proud civic party had to go to the bottom of the barrel to find such a woefully unqualified person as their mayoral candidate. I wonder why my former colleaques would still stick with this party. #vanpoli https://t.co/SKqTJ1yytf

— Tung Chan 陳志動 (@28WPender) August 31, 2022

The race against incumbent mayor Kennedy Stewart includes candidates Ken Sim, Colleen Hardwick, and Mark Marissen. Voters head to the polls on Oct. 15.

– With files from Kurtis Doering