P.E.I. MP Wayne Easter tells vegan to 'have a T-bone steak' on Twitter
Laura Meader, Gail Harding | CBC News | Posted: August 3, 2016 5:39 PM | Last Updated: August 3, 2016
Easter says his comment was 'inappropriate' but he had no idea tweeter was a vegan
A P.E.I. MP offered up some unwelcome advice on Twitter recently, telling a vegan to "have a T-bone steak."
Wayne Easter, who represents the Malpeque riding, was responding to a tweet in which Richelle Benoit questioned Easter and MP Lawrence MacAulay on their concerns for "healthcare & the planet" after a tweet about the politicians having an agriculture-related meeting.
'It was just a quip'
Richelle Benoit, who goes by @richelle_bee, lives in B.C. and describes herself as an animal advocate.
"I didn't expect that from a member of Parliament that I would be dismissed when asking policy questions," she told CBC News.
But Benoit added she doesn't take the response to heart.
"It was just a quip, it wasn't meant to be hurtful. What I would like to see is action from government."
When contacted by CBC News, Easter said he had no idea idea Benoit was a vegan.
"I found that out after," he said.
"I will admit, if I had known this person was a vegan I wouldn't have used that statement ... so that was inappropriate to say to a vegan.
"I believe very much in animal production and a variety of foods but if somebody else has a different philosophy and they want to eat other products that's entirely up to them. That's their right," said Easter.
'Attack on animal production'
Animal Justice executive director Camille Labchuk, who is from P.E.I. and grew up in Easter's riding, also waded into the online debate, along with many others.
"Her question actually deserved a serious response, especially from an MP who's elected to voice people's concerns and listen to them," Labchuk said.
But Easter said he did respond by tweeting that they talked about how livestock contributes to the economy, jobs, and provides healthy food.
He said things went downhill from there.
"I wouldn't call it a debate, I'd call it an attack," Easter said.
"I reacted maybe a little aggressively against, basically, their attack on animal production and on producers when I'm dealing with producers who are struggling to make a life."
Benoit said the discussion among politicians needs to be broader.
"They only talk about the benefits of the sector, they never talk about the negatives and there are plenty of negatives, so I'd like to see some balance."
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