By Canadian Press

Boot Cooper from Tory caucus over comments on online hate: Liberal MP

Jun 3, 2019 | 1:51 PM

OTTAWA — A Liberal MP says Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer should eject colleague Michael Cooper from the Tory caucus over things the MP said about online hate in a parliamentary hearing last week.

Randy Boissonnault says Scheer’s refusal to boot Cooper from caucus shows there’s a “revolving door” for bigots into the Conservative party.

During a May 28 meeting on the topic of online hate, Cooper quoted from the manifesto of the man charged with the mass murder in Christchurch, New Zealand in March.

Cooper was arguing with a Muslim witness that conservatism should not be linked to extremist attacks like those on the two mosques in that city, which left 51 dead.

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On Saturday, Scheer released a statement on Twitter saying he had stripped Cooper of his place on the justice committee but considered the matter closed.

Cooper’s actions in committee came the same day Scheer gave a speech in which he said bigots are not welcome in the Conservative party, saying “there’s the door” to anyone who believes race, religion, gender or sexual orientation makes them superior.

The Canadian Press