CALGARY — United Conservative Leader Danielle Smith says a candidate who compared transgender students in schools to feces in food would have “a lot of work to do” to find her way into the party’s caucus. 

Smith made the comment on CTV Calgary’s morning show a day after she said Jennifer Johnson would not sit with the UCP in the legislature if elected on May 29.

Earlier this week, audio surfaced from September 2022, before Johnson won the UCP nomination in Lacombe-Ponoka, with several homophobic and transphobic comments.

Johnson has apologized for the remarks, saying she’s embarrassed she caused hurt.

Smith says she believes in redemption and second chances, but Johnson would need to prove herself.

The comments came a day after Smith called Johnson’s language both offensive and a vile analogy.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 19, 2023.

The Canadian Press