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Any colour poppy? The Royal Canadian Legion “glorifies” war and has a “monopoly?”

So disrespectful for the original poster. But for a would-be MPP to think this is “relevant” is insulting.

But it was the “let the red in poppies bleed out” line that was most offensive. It’s a repugnant description when you think of all of the Canadian troops who have done just that on foreign battlefields.

Needless to say they were taken aback at the Royal Canadian Legion branch 183 in Kincardine.

Branch President Jim McDonald was surprised.

“It is interesting,” he said. “She comes to our events here.”

In fact, Johnstone was at the branch in April that hosted the NDP nomination which she won. Johnstone, who was in Goderich for a debate against PC candidate Lisa Thompson and Liberal Don Matheson, hasn’t responded, but NDP spokesman Andrew Schwab insisted there’s “context here” and explained “the original text come from a user named “godspal.”

“To be clear, this was not posted by Jan,” he said.

Andrew told me “Jan quoted that comment in its entirety, framing it with: I thought this post was relevant.”

He explained “obviously, quoting a comment she finds ‘relevant’ does not mean she agrees with the content, and the ‘plague on their house’ language is clearly from ‘godspal,’ not Jan.”

And Schwab noted that “posting 7 minutes later, Johnstone says ‘one way to speak out and simultaneously support peace and provide a political meaning to both — respect those who died and promote peace – is wear both. It sure would evoke a conversation.’”