Okanagan MLA’s comments on Tumbler Ridge mass murder fuel recall campaign

Shortly after the tragic mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream MLA Tara Armstrong used the shooter’s identity to push for her own failed policy, and she isn’t answering questions about the move.

People across B.C. and Canada are shaken and mourning following the mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge on Feb. 10. The same day as the shooting, Armstrong took to social media to point out that the shooter was transgender and claim there’s “an epidemic of transgender violence.”

Since then, Armstrong’s narrative has received backlash.

Wilbur Turner, who’s organizing a campaign to recall Armstrong from office, told iNFOnews.ca people are outraged by Armstrong’s social media post.

“We have seen a pattern of political aggression toward the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and in particular toward transgender people, coming from Armstrong since she was elected. It has escalated beyond reason over the Tumbler Ridge tragedy. Sadly, she is manufacturing rage using blatant disinformation to fulfill her own personal agenda,” Turner said in an email.

Armstrong has focused on trans rights frequently throughout her tenure in office including a failed bill targeting trans youth in schools and health care.

Turner said Armstrong’s Tumbler Ridge comments have increased interest in the recall campaign against her.

“There has been an outcry of backlash against Armstrong’s social media posts on the Recall Armstrong Facebook pages along with a surge in sign ups for the newsletter and volunteering, as well as an increase in donations to the campaign,” he said.

The petition to recall Armstrong can be filed with Elections BC as early as April 20.

The BC Human Rights Commissioner Kasari Govender didn’t name Armstrong, but released a statement addressing the misinformation around a connection between transgender people and violence.

“Leaders have a duty to uphold the facts and the rights of everyone involved. Using this horrific incident to conflate trans identities with violent tendencies is incorrect, irresponsible and frankly dangerous,” Govender wrote in a statement.

“When we look at the data, it tells us a different story than what some spreading disinformation want you to see right now. It tells us that trans people are substantially more likely to be victims rather than perpetrators of violent crimes, four times more likely than cisgender people. And of people who commit mass shootings, trans people make up far less than one per cent in the U.S.”

Armstrong made several recent social media posts that have been controversial like criticizing the Bad Bunny halftime show for not being in English, posting an AI generated image of herself and calling Antifa a terrorist organization.

Armstrong also recently compared First Nations to criminal organizations.

“Mexican cartels sell marketable products. The mafia provides security services. But what economic value is contributed by tribal chiefs in reconciliation-based agreements? None,” Armstrong wrote on social media.

Armstrong has declined every interview request from iNFOnews.ca, including for this story.