LAVAL, Que. — Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff told reporters in Montreal Thursday a candidate who suggested not all sexual offenders deserve to go to prison, can remain a representative of the party.
Ignatieff said he was “disgusted” by the comments but John Reilly, a retired Alberta judge, had a good reputation for public service and he had apologized unreservedly.
“This candidate has issued an unreserved apology for these remarks. These remarks are utterly, totally unacceptable. We find them, in fact, disgraceful. But let’s remember the context here. This is a court judge, appointed under the Lougheed regime by a distinguished Canadian (former premier Peter) Lougheed. He has served the community with a long record of distinguished public service. He made one remark that he’s going to regret for the rest of his life. He’s offered an unreserved apology, I’ve accepted it and on those grounds he can continue as a candidate, basically because we’re looking at a man’s life. We’re looking at a man’s life as a judge, as a public responsible official and that remark was simply unacceptable and he knows that,” Ignatieff said.
