EDMONTON—Another United Conservative election candidate is under fire for once suggesting that a Christian couldn’t support a government that endorses gay marriage, abortion, and the minimum wage — because they’re not biblical.

Martin Long, the UCP candidate running in West Yellowhead, commented on a Facebook post in 2016 that questioned supporting a government that endorses these things.

“(sic) I would suggest that by virtue of voting for or even defending a government which: supports gay marriage although biblically marriage is between man and woman, endorses a minimum living wage although biblically a man who chooses not to work shall not eat, and says that if you are pro life you can not represent their party although biblically we are not supposed to murder, then one may need to self-examine to figure out if they are ‘Liberal’ or ‘Christian,’” Long wrote.

On Monday, Star Edmonton sent the UCP a link to the post and asked for its response to questions about what it contained. The party responded with a statement from Long where he said that he believes “in equality of all before the law.”

“Same-sex marriage has been the law of the land for over 13 years. I believe that people have the right to marry whom they please. I would support this as a legislator as I do now.”

He also pointed to the UCP’s platform policy on minimum wage and said he would support it.

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On abortion, Long said, “(UCP Leader) Jason Kenney has been clear that we will not be reopening this debate. I support the party’s position on this issue.”

“Albertans are tired of being distracted by these divisive debates. I understand that as an elected official, I am responsible for representing all constituents who hold a wide variation of views. I am committed to respecting the rights of all Albertans, as is the United Conservative Party,” said Long, using similar language as other UCP candidates after their own controversies.

It appears the comment was deleted after it was brought to the attention of Long and the party on Monday.

The news of the Facebook post comes amid trying times for the United Conservatives, which has dealt with several so-called “bozo eruptions,” wherein party candidates have had offensive social media posts or past remarks brought to light.

The most high-profile incident came last week when the UCP’s education critic and Drayton Valley-Devon candidate Mark Smith came under fire for homophobic statements he made in 2013 during a sermon he gave.

“You don’t have to watch any TV for any length of time today where you don’t see on the TV programs them trying to tell you that homosexuality and homosexual love is good love,” Smith can be heard saying in an audio clip posted online.

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“Heck, there are even people out there, I could take you to places on the website I’m sure, where you could find out that there’s — where pedophilia is love.”

Kenney condemned Smith’s statements, but received wide criticism for not taking the decision to remove Smith as a candidate and instead saying that he hadn’t heard Smith make those kinds of comments while being party leader.

However, in 2015, when Smith was an MLA with the Wildrose Party before it merged with the Progressive Conservatives to form the UCP, he pushed for Christian schools to be able to fire gay teachers.

Smith wrote a six-page policy paper, obtained by Star Edmonton, where he stated his belief was that schools should be allowed to fire teachers based on their sexuality.

The UCP sent a statement at the time saying the party doesn’t believe that independent schools should have the right to terminate a worker’s employment due to their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Smith posted his own statement online after the 2013 comments comparing gay love to pedophilia emerged saying he didn’t recall making the remarks.

“While I don’t specifically recall the comments in question, I believe they are from many years ago from before I was elected. I did not say that love between same-sex couples was not love, I merely remarked on media commentary. That said, I regret how my commentary was framed at the time,” he wrote.

“Of course I do not believe that homosexuality is akin to pedophilia. I unequivocally apologize if anyone was offended or hurt. Obviously that would never be my intention.”

The UCP has also dealt with a rash of candidates’ social media histories being dug up during the election campaign, which will end April 16 when voters head to the polls.

The party’s former candidate for Calgary-Mountain View, Caylan Ford, resigned in late March over messages she sent online promoting white supremacist ideologies.

Another UCP candidate, Eva Kiryakos, stepped down from the Calgary-South East riding as well after she claimed that someone had dug up social media posts she made promoting Islamophobic and transphobic conspiracies and were using them against her.

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