Liberal candidate in northern Ont. in hot water over past social media posts

Ontario Tories are criticizing years-old social media posts by Timiskaming-Cochrane Liberal candidate Rick Ellsmere.

The Ontario Liberal candidate in Timiskaming-Cochrane is being criticized because of old social media posts from his personal accounts that appear to mock women and the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

Both posts belong to Liberal candidate Rick Ellsmere’s personal accounts. One is from Facebook and one is from X.

The first is a post from Aug. 23, 2015. It’s a meme stating that the only thing men know about women is that they have breasts, along with a jubilant Homer Simpson.

The second is a post from Ellsmere’s X account from July 30, 2019. He commented on a transphobic post mocking a woman in a dress, insinuating that she had male genitals.

Posts have been verified

CTV News has seen and verified both posts.

When reached for a comment over the phone Tuesday afternoon, Ellsmere said he had “no idea” that these posts existed on his feed.

“This is the first I’m hearing about it,” he said

Ellsmere said he and his campaign team “vetted through” his social media carefully.

“I am super pro LGBTQ+ and pro-women,” he said.

“I’ll repost what Justin Trudeau has done. With our small business, we have a transgender person who identifies as a man.”

Liberal leader criticized

The Progressive Conservatives are using Ellsmere’s posts to bash Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie for failing “to vet her candidates and take responsibility for their behaviour.”

“Ellsmere’s candidacy is just the latest addition to Bonnie Crombie’s ragtag and incomplete crew of controversial and disgraceful Liberal candidates,” the party said in a news release.

“Her roster includes individuals who have trivialized and downplayed sexual assault and date rape, made homophobic and racially insensitive remarks, and contemplated Hitler’s leadership capabilities. Yet Bonnie continues to stand by them.”

Ellsmere is a public works operator for the Municipality of Charlton and Dack and the Township of Chamberlain. He also serves as the president of the Englehart Minor Hockey Association.

Election day is Feb. 27.