Tories keep controversial ex-youth leader

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This article was published 24/01/2013 (4679 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba’s Opposition party is not going to revoke the membership of a former youth-wing president who made controversial comments about aboriginals — at least not right now.

The Progressive Conservative board of directors met Wednesday night and formally accepted the resignation of Braydon Mazurkiewich as the party’s youth president.

Some aboriginals, and at least one Tory board member, have called on the party to go further and revoke Mazurkiewich’s membership.

Party president Ryan Matthews issued a statement after the meeting that said the board “reserves the right” to take such action in the future should it be deemed necessary.

Mazurkiewich stirred up controversy last month when he referred to “freeloading Indians” on his Facebook page.

The party demanded he step down as youth president, and party leader Brian Pallister later denounced the comments as wrong and unacceptable.

— The Canadian Press