Former Liberal Candidate Denounces 'Alt-Right' Rumours About Clarington Council Run
In the world of local politics, the "rumour mill" is often treated as a harmless pastime. But a recent social media post speculating about the political ambitions of a former federal candidate has sparked debate about the line between political gossip and personal attacks.
Melissa Whitefield, a prominent voice and admin in the Facebook group Bring Change to Clarington, posted yesterday evening, suggesting that former federal Liberal candidate Bridget Girard is preparing to run for the vacant Ward 2 councillor seat in the next municipal election.
“Word on the street (and you know how Clarington loves a good CRINGY rumour mill) is that with the Ward 2 councillor seat sitting vacant... former federal Liberal candidate Bridget Girard... may be running municipally in Bowmanville, Ward 2,” Whitefield wrote.
Whitefield pointed to Girard's recent attendance at council meetings and her presence at local events alongside Councillor Granville Anderson and Mayor Adrian Foster as evidence of a campaign in the making.
“She’s been seen at several Clarington council meetings and is making the rounds with Councillor Granville Anderson & Mayor Adrian Foster at local events! One has to wonder 🤔,” the post continued.
Whitefield also touched on potential political alliances, questioning whether “those currently seated around the council table who have aligned politically in the past will publicly support or even endorse her.”
However, when reached by The Provincial Times, Girard flatly denied the speculation, offering a different interpretation of both her motivations and the nature of the page hosting the rumours.
“Absolutely None,” Girard stated when asked if there was any truth to the post.
Girard, who lost to Conservative MP Jamil Jivani in the last federal election by 4%, did not stop at a simple denial. She characterized the Bring Change to Clarington page—where Whitefield is one of the most active posters—as a politically motivated platform designed to target liberals.
“That is a mean-spirited, alt-right page that mixes mundane municipal news with Canada Proud, Michelle Ferreri, and our MP's [Jamil Jivani] posts,” Girard told The Provincial Times.
She expressed frustration with the tone of the discourse on the page, pointing to comments left by its followers as evidence of a toxic environment.
“I don't know how the administration can keep up comments like 'libtard,'” Girard said. “How offensive to people with intellectual disabilities.”
Rather than laying the groundwork for a municipal campaign, Girard insisted her presence in the community is nothing more than that of a private citizen.
“I have been an educator and mom in the community. I have lived a pretty upstanding life of family and community service. It is just discouraging to see that misrepresented,” she said.
The post has since garnered significant attention in Clarington political circles, highlighting the often-blurry line between public speculation and private life.
As of writing, Whitefield has not responded to our request for comment regarding Girard's characterization of the page.
Mayor Adrian Foster and Councillor Granville Anderson have not commented on the record regarding the speculation or Girard's denial.
As Clarington looks ahead to the next municipal election, the incident serves as a reminder that in the age of hyper-local social media, simply showing up to a council meeting can sometimes be misinterpreted as a political act.
