PC candidate says comments on recruiting doctors from India and Pakistan weren't meant to be derogatory

The Progressive Conservative candidate in an upcoming Newfoundland byelection says his comments during a debate about Newfoundland and Labrador's recruitment of health-care professionals in India and Pakistan weren't meant to be derogatory.

On the campaign trail in Springdale on Tuesday, Lin Paddock reiterated comments he made in an emailed statement on Monday, saying he values diversity.

"How I framed it during the debate was probably not the best choice of wording. I mean you're in the heat of a debate, and there was not a lot of time to prepare for even some of the questions. So you don't have time to get into it and reflect," Paddock said.

On Thursday at the Green Bay Chamber of Commerce, Paddock criticized the way the provincial government recruits doctors overseas.

"We need to recruit in areas that love this [area], places like Germany where they adore the outdoors, not India and Pakistan where they will come here and then go to Toronto," Paddock said.

On Tuesday, Paddock said he didn't mean "to just pick on two countries."

"That's not my style, right?" he said, adding he worked and served with people from around the world during a 30-year career in the Canadian Armed Forces. "It was a matter of highlighting that we need to think outside the box with regards to recruiting and retaining."

Paddock said the comments haven't come up in an conversation he's had with voters and he doesn't believe the they've affected his campaign. He said the comments are being blown up by the media and the Liberal party.

Asked how he thinks the comments being perceived as racist will affect his showing in the May 27 byelection, Paddock responded, "I think we'll get that answer on voting day."

Liberal MHAs have taken aim at Paddock, with Immigration Minister Gerry Byrne calling on Opposition leader Tony Wakeham to denounce the candidate's comments.

On Tuesday in the House of Assembly, Wakeham began question period by asking about a CBC report over food insecurity statistics in the province, and Premier Andrew Furey quickly changed the subject to Paddock.

"It's too important to brush off, and the people of Newfoundland and Labrador deserve this conversation. I want to be clear that it's the position of me and my government that we value every doctor, whether they're from Newfoundland and Labrador or any other country," Furey said.

Wakeham came back to questions over food insecurity four more times, with a Liberal MHA rising each time to speak about the comments and ask Wakeham if he still backs Paddock.

While he didn't comment on it in the House, Wakeham told reporters afterward that he has accepted an apology from Paddock and is ready to move forward.