Winnipeg mayoral candidate Gord Steeves says his wife is not a racist and that she made comments about aboriginal panhandlers out of fear and anger.
Steeves addressed the media for the first time Tuesday since a Facebook post from 2010 was leaked Friday of Lorrie Steeves complaining about "drunken native guys" downtown.
Steeves said the remarks were sparked after she was accosted by aggressive panhandlers on two occasions, including one time when she was with her children.
"My wife was angry and scared and…she did something in poor judgment,” said Steeves.
He said his wife is a caring, loving person and mother, and made the posting because she was scared and upset.
Lorrie Steeves apologized for the comments in a statement Friday. The candidate said he supports that apology but did not say sorry himself, saying he is not the one who made the remarks.
Other mayoral candidates had called on Steeves to apologize and clarify how he feels about the remarks. Steeves wouldn’t apologize Tuesday.
“The comments were not my comments. I support my wife and I love her and I stand with her and she made the apology and I support her,” he said.
Steeves said he does not know if this will impact his campaign for mayor.
A couple dozen people from the aboriginal community were on hand, shouting questions to Steeves during his address Tuesday, which he ignored for the most part.
A political analyst at the University of Winnipeg said Steeves should have said sorry, stressing the candidate missed a chance to reach out to the aboriginal community to make amends.
"Basically, all he did was reiterate his wife's apology and, I suspect - particularly after waiting for four days - that people wanted a bit more than that,” said Aaron Moore.
Steeves said he waited until Tuesday because it coincided with a planned campaign announcement.
- with a report from Jeff Keele
