If you go to the Conservative Party of Canada's webpage and pull down the list of candidates running in the upcoming federal election, you won't find the candidate for Windsor-Tecumseh-Lakeshore.
Mark McKenzie was told by the party this morning that he was no longer the candidate after audio from a podcast he hosted was brought to their attention.
"They said, we made a decision, you're no longer the candidate. At that point I said, 'ok, can I explain?' It was taken out of context, let me send you the audio once you hear it you'll understand. They said 'no, the decision has already been made,'" said McKenzie.
In the podcast, recorded in 2022, McKenzie expressed support for harsher penalties for criminals like public hangings, and mentioned Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as part of the conversation.
"We were jokingly talking about public hangings and we said 'oh and Trudeau' and ha ha ha like laughing. Obviously, that isn't what we really meant, obviously we don't think there should be a public hanging for Trudeau or any elected official or anybody but it was off the cuff, it was taken way out of context," said McKenzie.
The recording was made near the end of the Freedom Convoy protests in downtown Ottawa and at the Ambassador Bridge.
McKenzie said he is disappointed with the party's decision.
"I just want to thank everybody and I'm sorry if I let you down and I'm sorry if the party let you down. But we'll get through this together and we'll see what the future holds," said McKenzie.
Calls to the Conservative Party of Canada were not immediately returned.
Meanwhile, a new petition is calling for McKenzie's ouster as councillor for Windsor's Ward 4.
Avery Tracey started the petition Tuesday morning saying the comments are "completely at odds with the sensibilities of our diverse and progressive community."
McKenzie said the audio was circulated during the time he ran for council.
"I have heard that there is a petition and it's being done by an individual who has constantly attacked me from day one of being elected," said McKenzie.
The petition had 270 signatures since 3 p.m. Tuesday.
-with files from Maureen Revait