{"id":57872,"date":"2018-11-08T14:44:18","date_gmt":"2018-11-08T19:44:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/huntsville.dopperonline.ca\/?p=57872"},"modified":"2018-11-08T15:31:17","modified_gmt":"2018-11-08T20:31:17","slug":"clement-admits-to-multiple-inappropriate-exchanges-community-group-petition-calls-for-resignation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/doppleronline.ca\/huntsville\/clement-admits-to-multiple-inappropriate-exchanges-community-group-petition-calls-for-resignation\/","title":{"rendered":"Clement admits to multiple ‘inappropriate exchanges’; community group petition calls for his resignation"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Today, Parry Sound-Muskoka MP Tony Clement released an apologetic statement to his constituents, admitting that he has “crossed lines that should never have been crossed.”<\/p>\n

Clement’s letter comes on the heels of a scandal which broke Tuesday involving sexually explicit images sent by the politician that resulted in an attempt to extort money from him.<\/p>\n

“In conducting myself this way I\u2019ve let down myself, my family, my friends and supporters, my community, my work colleagues, and my staff\u2014basically everyone I care about and who care about me,” wrote Clement in a statement to his Parry Sound-Muskoka constituents. “Pride and vanity got the better of me, and shame held me back from getting back to the path of good. I apologize to the women with whom the exchanges occurred, and I also apologize to anyone else who felt in any way that I crossed online boundaries that made them feel uncomfortable, even without my knowing. I am deeply sorry.”<\/p>\n

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He added, “I want to be clear that at no time have these personal lapses impacted or involved my day to day work as a Member of Parliament on behalf of our communities. That said, I offer you no excuses for my conduct. I take full responsibility. Members of Parliament are expected to set a high standard, a standard I have failed to meet.”<\/p>\n

Clement made it clear that he intends to continue his duties as Parry Sound-Muskoka’s Member of Parliament.<\/p>\n

“I am committed to getting the professional help I need to continue serving my family, my community and my country in whatever ways I can. I wish to sincerely thank the many members of our community who have reached out to convey their thoughts and prayers to me. I can assure the residents of Parry Sound-Muskoka that my offices remain open and at your service, and that I will continue to uphold the responsibilities of being your Member of Parliament.” (Read the full text of Clement’s letter at the end of this post.)<\/p>\n

Clement initially resigned from his roles as Shadow Minister for Justice and on several parliamentary committees. Conservative Party leader Andrew Scheer later, after he learned that it wasn’t the first time Clement shared such images online, asked him to resign from the party’s caucus, leaving Clement to sit as an independent.<\/p>\n

But some are calling for his resignation as the riding’s representative.<\/p>\n

A petition started by Women’s March Muskoka<\/a><\/span> reads, “If Tony Clement is no longer fit to serve on key parliamentary committees, or as a member of his party’s caucus, then he is clearly unfit to serve as the Member of Parliament for Parry Sound-Muskoka.”<\/p>\n

While some constituents have expressed concern and support for Clement, others have made comments on social media and on this site questioning why he has not stepped down completely.<\/p>\n

Among the comments Doppler has received:<\/p>\n