Tom Mulcair apologizes for 1996 Newfie comment
Liberal candidate releases Newfie quote hours before NDP leader's rally in St. John's
Tom Mulcair's words came back to bite him Sunday when a Liberal candidate released a quote from two decades ago in which the NDP leader, who was then a Quebec cabinet minister, used the term Newfie in a disparaging way.
Mulcair apologized Sunday for using the word Newfie as a synonym for stupid during a committee debate in Quebec's National Assembly back in 1996.
"I unreservedly apologize to anyone who might have taken offence at that statement made in the heat of a debate more than 20 years ago," Mulcair told reporters following a rally at the Sheraton Hotel in St. John's.
The quote was released by Nick Whalen, the Liberal candidate in St. John's East, just hours before Mulcair's noon rally.
For anyone joining the "Newfie" controversy late, here's the quote from 1996 Mulcair has apologized for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nlpoli?src=hash">#nlpoli</a> <a href="http://t.co/Jhtm4IVZBt">pic.twitter.com/Jhtm4IVZBt</a>
—@PeterCBC
Whalen told CBC News Sunday that he accepts Mulcair's apology, but believes the formal statement was long overdue.
Whalen, who was studying at Queen's University in the late 1990s, said he recalls it was "a difficult time" for Quebec.
"And I felt the stigma of being labelled a Newfie at times, and I felt additional pressure at people having a prejudice that we weren't as intelligent as other people but, in fact, we are," Whalen said.
But not all candidates were offended by Mulcair's 1996 statement.
Cleary says it was a long time ago, could probably find things that he wrote 20 years ago too as a journalist <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nlpoli?src=hash">#nlpoli</a>
—@PeterCBCRyan Cleary, the NDP incumbent for St. John's South-Mount Pearl, told reporters that while he isn't a fan of the term Newfie, he believes Mulcair's apology was sincere.
"I take him at his word," said Cleary.
"He's a friend of mine, he's a friend of Newfoundland and Labrador, he has Newfoundland and Labrador's back."
On Twitter, politicians and commentators alike chimed in.
Mr. Mulcair needs to apologize for his derogatory use of "Newfie". Nothing less. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nlpoli?src=hash">#nlpoli</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/elxn42?src=hash">#elxn42</a>
—@MatthewBabbNLToday's Mulcair Newfie remark is probably the most attention anyone will pay to Newfoundland & Labrador this whole campaign.
—@thefutureyouseeThis "Newfie" comment by Mulcair is a act of desperation by a liberal candidate who has a slim to none chance of beating Jack Harris
—@ThornBlakeNever a chance of me voting NDP, but yeah that Mulcair used Newfie as a slur bugs. Don’t care how long ago. It’s no excuse. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/elxn42?src=hash">#elxn42</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash">#cdnpoli</a>
—@medieIt's clear <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NDP?src=hash">#NDP</a> leader Tom Mulcair used the term Newfie in a way that suggests Newfoundlanders are stupid. Why not apologize and move on?
—@dalegkirby