UCP nomination candidate apologizes for remarks about Fort McMurray Muslims

A Calgary United Conservative Party nomination candidate has apologized for three-year-old social mediacomments in whichshe compared Muslims in Fort McMurrayto bank robbers.

Cindy Ross, who is seeking the UCPnomination in Calgary-Fish Creek, apologized for now-deleted Facebook postsshe made in November 2015about the constructionof an Islamic centre in Fort McMurray.

• Disqualified UCP candidate stands behind calling Islam an 'evil cult'

Ross also saidshe hadno recollection of writing the controversial post where shesaid she hated the idea of building an Islamic centre inFortMcMurray.

"What a better place to have a mosque. Right in the middle of our greatest asset," Ross said in 2015. "This is a bit of like jailing the bank robber in the bank vault."

Ross's retractioncame onthe eve of voting day and hoursafter the NDPissued a news release Thursday which described her comments as"racist views" on an "extremist Facebook page."

Ross's post and account havebeen deleted.

"I apologize for any offence my old posts have caused," Ross said in a Facebook post on her official candidate page Thursday afternoon. "They certainly do not represent my views today."

UCP: 'People can evolve'

A statement from the UCP'sexecutive director, Janice Harrington, said party members may have held certain views in the past but it doesn't necessarily mean they still hold themtoday.

"We also recognize that people are allowed to grow and change their views over time," Harrington said. "Indeed, accepting that people can evolve is necessary for a tolerant province."

Ross'sapology on Facebook was deleted Friday morning,but it remains on her Twitter page.

Shesaid in her apology she wouldvisit the Fort McMurraymosque and meetwith the local Muslim community.

• MORE FORTMcMURRAYNEWS: Outfitter charged with unsafe bear baiting near Fort McMurray
• MOREFORTMcMURRAYNEWS:Fort McMurray locals disapprove of transient workers, case study shows
• MORE FORTMcMURRAYNEWS:Fort McMurray faces shortage of child-care professionals, advocacy group warns

Irfan Sabir, a Calgary NDPMLA, condemned the candidate's post and called on the UCPleader Jason Kenney to answer why Ross is allowed to run in Friday's nomination vote.

"The hateful views expressed by Ms. Ross are an insult to Alberta Muslims," Sabirsaid in a statement to CBC. "And to anyone who knows that our province is made so much stronger by its diversity."

Connect with David Thurton, CBC'sFort McMurraycorrespondent, onFacebook,Twitter,LinkedInor email him atdavid.thurton@cbc.ca