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Interim B.C. Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson says Heather Maahs will remain the party's candidate for Chilliwack North despite past comments on LGBT issues and her hosting of a reception for a Christian lobby group that opposes abortion and conversion therapy bans.
Interim B.C. Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson says Heather Maahs will remain the party's candidate for Chilliwack North despite controversial past comments on LGBT issues and abortion.
Maahs Responds to Controversial Comments
Doerkson said he does not share the views expressed by Maahs, but she will be allowed to run under the party's banner. The controversy was raised Friday by B.C. NDP candidate Spencer Chandra Herber, who issued a press release drawing attention to past comments by Maahs. In 2022, while speaking on a podcast, Maahs discussed books in schools depicting same-sex relations.
Maahs said: It is for sure grooming. It desensitizes kids. And it is all under the name of LGBTQ because it is boy on boy. And I am talking boy.
Young boys. Herber said conflating the gay community with pedophilia is deeply homophobic. In an interview airing Sunday on CTV Question Period, Doerkson responded to the comments. I do not share that view, of course, he said.
I am committed to making sure that people are treated with respect in this province, and certainly that we provide safe spaces for all of our children, our residents. That is an absolute commitment from me. Doerkson also addressed the timing of the NDP's criticism. I think that the NDP, obviously, is digging up a number of things that have been canvassed from the past, he said.
Doerkson Confirms Candidate Will Stay
I think that we have contemplated much since, and I think there have been, obviously, as I just indicated, robust conversations about these types of issues in our caucus room. When pressed by host Vassy Kapelos about whether Maahs would remain a candidate under the B.C. Conservative banner, Doerksen responded: Yes. Maahs is an incumbent MLA.
She also hosted a reception at the B.C. legislature in 2025 for a group called the Association for Reformed Political Action. The Association for Reformed Political Action is a Christian lobby group that believes homosexuality is immoral, abortion should be criminalized and conversion therapy bans should be reversed. Herber called on Doerkson to take stronger action against Maahs.
Herber said in a statement: Conflating the gay community with pedophilia is deeply homophobic, and there should be no place for this kind of hate in a party that hopes to lead this province. The B.C. Conservatives have tolerated this for years, but Lorne Doerkson could change that. Herber added: It is not nearly enough for Lorne Doerkson to say he supports rainbows or same sex marriage.
Conservative Party Faces Candidate Scrutiny
He should send a clear message and fire Heather Maahs immediately. Parties have until Saturday at 1 p.m. PT to remove and replace candidates. Doerkson's full interview is scheduled to air on CTV Question Period Sunday at 11 a.m. ET. The decision to keep Maahs as a candidate comes as the party faces scrutiny over views held by some of its candidates on LGBT issues and abortion.
Doerkson, who serves as interim leader, has said he is committed to ensuring people are treated with respect and that safe spaces are provided for children and residents. He has not changed his position that Maahs will remain under the party's banner.
CTVNews 
CP24:B.C. Conservative leader disagrees with candidate’s LGBT remarks, but won’t remove her as candidateThis story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
B.C. Conservatives Heather Maahs LGBT Rights Abortion Election Lorne Doerkson Chilliwack North Spencer Chandra Herber
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