Former Ontario PC leadership candidate Tanya Granic Allen under fire for online comments

TORONTO – Former Ontario Tory leadership hopeful Tanya Granic Allen, who is now seeking a party nomination ahead of a spring provincial election, is coming under fire for comments she made online several years ago about Muslims and gay people.

In tweets and blog posts dating back to 2013 and 2014, Granic Allen – a parental rights and anti-abortion advocate – speaks out against gay marriage and compares women wearing burkas to “ninjas” and “bank robbers.”

READ MORE: Tanya Granic Allen, former Ontario PC Party leadership candidate, seeks nomination in Mississauga

In one case, she links to a news story about an attack on two teenage girls in Zanzibar, calling it “yet another reason not to vacation in a Muslim country.”

Ontario Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne and NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said the views expressed in Granic Allen’s posts are unacceptable and said it would be up to the Tories to decide whether they want someone with those beliefs as a candidate.

READ MORE: Ontario PC Leader Doug Ford won’t have media bus on campaign trail

Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford said in a statement that Granic Allen’s comments do not reflect his views or those of the party, but would not say whether he thought she should be allowed to run under the party’s banner.

Granic Allen could not immediately be reached for comment.