A storm is brewing in the southern Ontario riding of Elgin–St. Thomas–London South as Pressure mounts on the CPC to drop Andrew Lawton from the Elgin–St. Thomas–London South race as controversy grows in southern Ontario.. At the centre of the controversy? A troubling history of discriminatory remarks targeting Muslims, women, 2SLGBTQ+ individuals, and Indigenous communities.

“Public office is not a platform for personal prejudice” — Advocacy group demands action as candidate’s troubling past resurfaces

Muslim Advocacy Group Speaks Out on Calls to Drop Andrew Lawton

The Hikma Public Affairs Council, a prominent London-based group tackling Islamophobia, has made a bold and public appeal: remove Lawton from the ballot. In a strongly-worded statement released Tuesday, the group denounced Andrew Lawton’s candidacy, citing a “well-documented pattern” of deeply harmful rhetoric.

“Including Islamophobic, antisemitic, homophobic, misogynistic and anti-Indigenous commentary, Mr. Lawton has consistently demonstrated conduct fundamentally incompatible with a democratic and inclusive society,” the statement read.

“I’m Ashamed of My Past”: Lawton Responds

When approached for comment, Lawton referred to a March 14 Facebook post, where he acknowledged his prior conduct, blaming it on a personal battle with mental illness.

“I was reckless, self-destructive, and said and did things that were deeply hurtful,” he wrote, expressing shame and a desire to improve. “I cannot undo my past, but I can live by example and continue to be the best man I can be.”

But for many community members, this response doesn’t go far enough, and they continue to call for the CPC to drop Andrew Lawton from the race.

A Record Under Scrutiny: Calls to Drop Andrew Lawton

Andrew Lawton, a former journalist and editor at the conservative platform True North, has a political past that’s drawn fire before. His 2018 provincial election run under Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives was marred by backlash over similar offensive comments — notably posts targeting Islam and same-sex marriage.

Some resurfaced examples include:

• A 2011 tweet: “I’m thinking of starting an all-Muslim basketball team. They’ll be called the Hezballers.”
• Another post: “I left the Anglican Church when they made the decision to allow gay marriage.”

Lawton has since attributed these remarks to his mental health struggles at the time. He currently serves on the board of Suicide Prevention Middlesex-London.

Constituents Speak: “We Deserve Better Representation”

Despite his public apology, local residents and advocacy groups remain unconvinced.

“This isn’t about party politics — it’s about character,” said Christine Rudman, a retired social worker from Port Stanley. “People deserve to know who’s really representing them.”

The sentiment is echoed by Elgin County Pride member Devon Church, who argues that Lawton’s candidacy undermines the region’s commitment to inclusion and progress.

“His ideology does not reflect progress; it reflects regression,” Church said. “Electing him would move us backward, not forward.”

Protests Planned as Election Nears

Rudman is one of several community members organizing a protest outside Lawton’s campaign office in St. Thomas. Their goal? To spark a deeper conversation about values — beyond party lines.

“In this rural community, people vote blue. But this time, they need to look beyond colour and at the character of the person behind it and consider whether the CPC should drop Andrew Lawton from the race.”

Context: A Broader Pattern of Controversy

Lawton isn’t the only candidate under fire. More than half a dozen CPC and Liberal nominees have been removed from their party’s ballots in just the first two weeks of the election campaign due to inflammatory past statements.

However, with the April 28 federal vote looming and the deadline to replace candidates now passed, Lawton remains on the ballot — for now.

The Bigger Question: Who Deserves a Seat at the Table?

As the riding of Elgin–St. Thomas–London South watches closely, a deeper question emerges:

Can past transgressions be forgiven, or should those seeking public trust be held to a higher standard?

The days ahead will likely determine whether Lawton’s apology is enough — or if calls for accountability will shape the outcome of this high-stakes race.