‘An honest mistake’ says Wildrose MLA suspended for Facebook comments

Derek Fildebrandt says he made an honest mistake on social media, and he does not agree with a comment that was shared on his Facebook page.

The Wildrose MLA and finance critic first made headlines earlier this week for his criticism of Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne. On Friday, he was suspended, following something he said after the incident at the Alberta Legislature.

Fildebrandt replied to a post on his Facebook page saying he was proud to have such constituent, after someone referred to the openly gay Ontario premier as “Mr. Wynne.”

He released the following statement on Saturday:

“I receive on average of 800 comments on my public Facebook page daily and I do my best to respond personally. As I’ve already stated publicly, I did not read a comment posted to my page by a constituent as carefully as I should have. If anyone felt that I shared those sentiments, I do not, and I apologize.”

“My colleagues know that those views do not reflect my own opinion and they recognize that I made an honest mistake, so I was surprised by this decision. I accept this decision.

I am proud to represent the people of Strathmore-Brooks, and I look forward to rejoining my Wildrose colleagues in holding the government to account, and standing up for Alberta.”

Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi was recently caught in his own social media controversy, after a Periscope video was released, showing him slamming Uber and its CEO.

Nenshi says it’s a hard lesson learned for those in the public eye.

“We all could do in public life to learn a lesson every once in awhile. I’ve learned plenty of them myself, and hopefully Mr. Fildebrandt will be able to learn from this and become a more effective leader,” he said.

Calgary-Varsity NDP MLA Stephanie McLean was also asked about the suspension.

“Social media plays a very important role in our work. It’s a useful tool but it’s something that we all know from past experience already that we need to be careful with (it),” McLean said.

Premier Wynne has not responded to the chatter on Facebook and subsequent suspension, but did say she wonders whether a man would have faced the same kind of vicious attack that was aimed at her by Fildebrandt.

Wynne was a visitor in the Alberta Legislature Thursday, at the invitation of Premier Rachel Notley, when Fildebrandt launched an attack on her economic management of Ontario.

She has accepted the Wildrose Party’s apology, but suggests a man might not have been treated the same way.