Conservatives blast MP who asked whether top pandemic doctor 'works for China' as Scheer steers clear

A Conservative leadership candidate is facing an angry backlash online and from some of his own caucus colleagues after he suggestedCanada's chief public health officer is working for China and should be fired for giving bad advice to the government on the COVID-19 crisis.

Derek Sloan, an MP from eastern Ontario who is running to lead his party under the slogan "Conservative Without Apology," posted a message and video on Facebook and Twitterthis week claiming that Dr. Theresa Tam had "failed Canadians."

"Dr. Tam must go! Canada must remain sovereign over decisions. The UN, the WHOand Chinese Communist propaganda must never again have a say over Canada's public health!" he wrote.

"Does [Tam]work for Canada or for China?"Sloanasks ina tweetedvideo. He alsoaccusedthe country's top doctor of parroting lines from the World Health Organizationafter it repeated "misinformation" disseminated by the communist Chinese government.

His remarks drew swift condemnation on social media, with some calling his words"repugnant," "vile" and "xenophobic."

Sloan re-tweeted Thursday evening the letter that he originally sent out Tuesday accusing Tam of "dutifully" repeating Chinese propaganda and calling for Tam to be "fired."

New letter

He issued a new letter Friday morning reacting to the controversy.

"I have been called a racist and a misogynist for questioning Dr. Tam's actions and for pointing out her many missteps," he wrote.

"None of my arguments for Dr. Tam's removal were based on Dr.Tam's race or her sex: they were based on her performance as our chief public health officer. We are in a culture where political correctness and identity politics are used as a shield to deflect or even outlaw criticism. Being called a racist for asking questions has been disappointing, though not unexpected."

Tam, who was born in British Hong Kong and grew up in the U.K., has denounced the rise in anti-Asian racist incidentsin Canadasince the novelcoronaviruserupted in Wuhan, China.

Watch: Tam reacts to suggestionthat she's working for China

Dr Tam responds to Conservative MP's call for her to quit

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Duration 0:56

Dr Theresa Tam, Canada's Chief Public Health Officer spoke to reporters on Parliament Hill on Thursday.

Tam brushed off Sloan's comments as "noise."

"I'm a pretty focused person and I work really, really hard," Tam said, adding that she has been working more than20 hours a day.

"My singular focus is to work with all my colleagues to get this epidemic wave under control. I don't let noise sort of detract me from doing that."

Watch: Scheer declines to comment on remarks about Tam

Scheer is asked about MP's criticism of Dr. Theresa Tam

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Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer is pressed by reporters on comments made by Conservative MP Derek Sloan criticizing Canada's Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam.

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheerrepeatedly refused to denounce or comment on Sloan's remarks.

"I won't be commenting on individual statements or positions that leadership candidates take. That's up for them to explain, and ultimately the members of our party will decide when they vote in a leadership race," he said.

Scheerhas raised concerns about the WHO's track record during the pandemicand its relationship withthe communist regime in China, but has directed his criticism of Canada's response to the pandemic at the Liberal government rather than Tam herself.

"We've got serious concerns about the accuracy of the information coming out of the WHO and it's incumbent upon this government to explain why they have based so many of their decisions on the WHO," Scheer said earlier this month.

Conservative MPs slam Sloan on Twitter

While Scheer refused to condemn Sloan's comments, several other Conservative MPs expressed their concerns through social media.

Alberta MP Michelle Rempelsaid on Twitter that she couldn't believe she had topublicly explain why Sloan'sremarks were "profoundly wrong."

MP Tim Uppaltweeted that while Conservatives will continue to poselegitimatequestions about the government's response to COVID-19 and the information coming out of China, "personal attacks against Dr. Tam are unacceptable and do not represent our party."

Ontario Conservative MP Eric Duncan said he wanted to make it clear to his constituents that he doesn't share Sloan's view.

"I may have questions and constructive concerns at times about Dr. Tam and team during these evolving, challenging times. But I will never question her loyalty to Canada and (that she has the) best interest of Canadians at heart," he tweeted.

British Columbia Conservative MP Dan Albas also weighed in.

"What I view as a personal attack against Dr. Tam from a member of our opposition caucus goes against the values that I believe we as elected officials should aspire to. Let us be mindful of the words of (B.C. provincial health officer)Dr. Bonnie Henry; 'be calm, be kind, be safe.'"

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was asked about the rise in anti-Asian racist incidents across Canada generally and Sloan's statement specifically.

Watch: Trudeau denounces racist acts in Canada

'Intolerance and racism have no place in our country': Trudeau

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Duration 1:02

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calls out racism as Conservative MP Derek Sloan faces backlash for his criticism of Dr. Theresa Tam.

"Intolerance and racism have no place in our country," he said.

"Canada has succeeded because of our diversity. It is one of our greatest strengths, and the millions of Canadians of all different backgrounds who are working together... to help their fellow Canadiansdeserve better than this from all of us.

"We need to continue in our resolve to be an open, welcoming, respectful country and I think all Canadians expect that of every politician."

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said Sloan's comments could incite racism and Scheershould condemnthem.

"From the beginning of this crisis, we've heard horrible stories of abuse faced by Asian Canadians, particularly those of Chinese descent. There is no question that MP Sloan's comments against Dr. Theresa Tam fuel this kind of racism. Andrew Scheer needs to clearly denounce this," he tweeted.

Sloan's leadership campaign website says"the damage to free speech, freedom ofreligionand freedom of conscience happening in Canada cannot be understated. It's time foreveryone concerned about these issues to stand up and support a candidate who will not just paylip service but get in the line of fire to defend these freedoms."

Sloan's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CBC News.