Quebec Liberal Party drops comedian Michel Savard as Gouin candidate over past posts

The Quebec Liberal Party has removed comedian Michel Savard as its candidate in the Montréal riding of Gouin after controversial social media posts comparing Parti Québécois members to Nazis resurfaced Wednesday.

Screenshots circulating on social media showed a comment Savard made on a post by actor Pierre-Luc Brillant in which he called the PQ "a far-right aberration" under leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon. "All those who follow this hateful and megalomaniac being are — despite all their good faith — also small Nazis of no stature, including your girlfriend and you," Savard wrote.

Savard posted a Facebook apology Wednesday to Plamondon, Brillant, and his wife, Isabelle Blais, acknowledging that for years he had participated in confrontational online debate intended to provoke and shock. "With hindsight, I realize that this way of debating has too often hurt people," he said.

The QLP announced late Wednesday that maintaining his candidacy was no longer possible. "New comments made in the past by Michel Savard have been brought to our attention in the last hour. After reassessing the situation, we have come to the conclusion that maintaining his candidacy is no longer possible," the party said in a statement. "This decision reflects our desire to maintain high standards of respect in public debate and our firm commitment against all forms of verbal violence."

Savard, an actor in Quebec series including "STAT," "Indefensible," and "District 31," will not run for the QLP in the fall provincial election. Québec solidaire has already announced that former federal MP Alexandre Boulerice will be its candidate in Gouin.