Article content continued

The messy fight between Kent and riding officials is the type of publicity the People’s Party of Canada is trying to avoid as it gears up for the Oct. 21 federal election.

The party, founded in 2018 by former Conservative cabinet minister Maxime Bernier, bills itself as the true standard bearer for conservative principles in Canada, citing its support for free markets and opposition to identity politics.

The party is still forming its platform. Baker said it doesn’t have any policies in place regarding social issues such as abortion and gay rights.

He denies he has a bias against Kent because of his sexual orientation.

“Definitely not,” he said in a brief telephone interview Monday morning, though he confirmed he made the “narcissistic LGBTQ” comment.

Baker suggested a Free Press reporter call the main office of the People’s Party of Canada to reach the party’s executive director “who is fully briefed on this.”

Attempts to reach the executive director, Johanne Mennie, for comment were unsuccessful.

Baker also said his statement in another Facebook chat post that “I have an obvious bias against this candidate” was taken out of context.

Kent, who lives in Drumbo and ran for the position of Blanford-Blenheim councillor in 2018, is adamant discrimination is at the root of his troubled relationship with the party that began in late March.

“This is a very big case of discrimination that violates the Charter (of Rights and Freedoms). From my perspective I believe it is bias because I am LGBTQ,” he said. “What we believe there was no way forward to defeat me so they took the opportunity to cut me out.”

Kent said he talked on April 29 to Bernier, who he said pledged to launch an investigation. So far he has heard nothing back, he said.