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Alberta politicians hurl a lot of words at each other. “Cowardly” is seldom one of them.

But Premier Rachel Notley used it Wednesday, when she accused conservatives of ignoring anti-gay people within their memberships.

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“Their collective skirting of the issue is cowardly and does not in my view warrant people thinking of them in a leadership role,” Notley told reporters.

The premier was answering questions after some Wildrose members aimed slurs at Cody Johnston, an openly gay and highly valued member of the party’s staff.

Johnston said on Facebook that he would attend Edmonton’s Pride Parade last Saturday.

He got responses such as: “What kind of crap is this that you’re mailing out in the name of the Wild Rose party? This party does not support this kind of life style and we certainly don’t promote it.”

Another said: “Do not give the viewer the impression that this is Wildrose approved. What is Brian Jean’s position regarding what you are doing?”