Federal election independent candidate David Popescu is causing outrage with remarks he has made in recent debates.
On Monday night at Tom Davies Square, during the Chamber of Commerce debate for the Sudbury riding, he was heard saying that people who did not follow the way of the Lord should be exterminated.
At a debate held at Sudbury Secondary on Tuesday, Popescu's off-the-cuff remarks continued when he was asked his stance on gay marriages.
“All homosexuals should be executed,” he replied.
First Nations Peoples Party candidate Will Morin, who was also participating in the debate, said students were noticeably upset by the comment.
“The place — full of students — went crazy,” said Morin. “There is a large gay population at Sudbury Secondary School with a progressive inclusive attitude in general there. It is important we have freedom of speech.”
Const. Albert Lapalme, media relations officer with the Greater Sudbury Police Service, said “there will be a criminal investigation into what was alleged to have been said during Mr. Popescu's presentation at Sudbury Secondary.”
The results of that investigation will be forwarded to the Attorney General's office.
“A decision will be made at that level whether charges will be laid,” Lapalme said.
He added the investigation could take months to complete and a conclusion is not expected prior to the election on Oct. 14.
Though there has been no conviction, Popescu could be facing charges under the hate propaganda section of the Criminal Code.
The code states: “Every one who, by communicating statements in a public place, incites hatred against any identifiable group where such incitement is likely to lead to a breach of the peace, is guilty of an indictable offence.”
The prison term for such a charge can be as much as two years.
The principal of Sudbury Secondary School, Paul Camillo, said he invited all the candidates in the Sudbury riding to participate in the debate, including fringe candidates such as Popescu.
"Towards the end of the debate there were questions that came from the floor. One student asked David Popescu his views on homosexuality. The candidate's reply obviously elicited a very strong response from the audience," he said.
"The students let the candidate know they did not agree with his views. We were right near the end of the debate when this happened, so shortly afterward, the debate drew to a close."
Camillo said that in his closing comments, he told the audience that the comments expressed by the candidates did not reflect the views of the school, and Sudbury Secondary School provides an inclusive environment for students.
A student from Sudbury Secondary posted a video on You Tube following Popescu's presentation.
“Why are we not allowed to have this free choice? We are Canadians. Canadians have free will,” the student said on the video. “The majority of my school is homosexual or bisexual. We even have a homosexual educator. Why should we be executed?”
Popescu, in his 60s, is an unemployed perennial candidate. He has taken part in numerous elections over the years.
Most recently, Popescu ran for mayor in 2006 and received about 0.1 per cent or 76 votes. He also ran in the 2006 federal election and received 0.1 per cent, or 54 of the votes.
-With files from Heidi Ulrichsen.
