A photo of Premier John Horgan, Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner and Surrey-Panorama MLA Jinny Sims with a convicted gunman is generating heat for the politicians.
The picture shows the politicians posing with former Radio India managing director Maninder Gill at a private residence. Gill was sentenced to four years in jail for a shooting that took place outside a wedding at a Sikh temple in 2010. Gill is appealing the conviction.
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The photo was taken at a private event hosted by Kulwant Dhesi. Dhesi did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Hepner said she attended the event as a guest and posing with Gill was 香蕉视频直播渁 mistake.香蕉视频直播� She said she didn香蕉视频直播檛 consult with anyone prior to attending and wasn香蕉视频直播檛 made aware of the guest list.
香蕉视频直播淧eople just said, 香蕉视频直播楥ome in, come in, take a picture.香蕉视频直播� And I didn香蕉视频直播檛 pay enough attention as I should have given that I know Maninder Gill and it香蕉视频直播檚 not my intention to give a mixed message because I香蕉视频直播檓 very clear about how passionately I feel about gun violence香蕉视频直播�. It香蕉视频直播檚 heading into silly season, so I do have to be a bit more careful with whom I香蕉视频直播檓 being photographed.香蕉视频直播�
Politicians from all parties take photos with people all the time, including Maninder Gill
香蕉视频直播� Sue Stroud (@suestroud)
Hepner said she looked at the event as an opportunity to speak with Premier Horgan.
香蕉视频直播淜ulwant Deshi called me and asked me to attend a function with the Premier. I did see it as an opportunity as the mayor to start creating a good kind of relationship when he香蕉视频直播檚 in my city. So off I went.香蕉视频直播�
If she knew who was in the photo, she wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 have been in it, she stressed.
Hepner said she also said she didn香蕉视频直播檛 pay to attend and no one said it was a fundraiser.
香蕉视频直播淚 didn香蕉视频直播檛 stay for dinner,香蕉视频直播� she added.
I don't believe for a second Horgan would have known who Gill is or what his offence was. But both Simms & Hepner do.
香蕉视频直播� Laila Yuile (@lailayuile)
Sims, who is standing right in front of Gill in the photo, has released a statement saying she, too, was unaware of the guest list, or that Maninder Gill would be in attendance.
香蕉视频直播淎nyone who knows me understands that I abhor violence. I have spent my life fighting against violence of all types,香蕉视频直播� said Sims in her statement. 香蕉视频直播淢aninder Gill was convicted of a very serious crime that I do not condone in any way. He should not have been there.香蕉视频直播�
"It seems that Premier John Horgan and minister Jinny Sims will entertain just anybody who can give them big-time money!" - Great line
香蕉视频直播� Canuck (@jonnycanuck42)
Surrey Councillors Mike Starchuk and Tom Gill were also at the event.
Tom Gill was also photographed with Maninder Gill, who is the brother of Tom Gill香蕉视频直播檚 mother-in-law.
He was not immediately available for comment.
Tom Gill was sued by Surrey businessman Harjit Atwal over comments Maninder Gill made to the Surrey Leader about the violent 2010 incident that Maninder was convicted in. Atwal was shot in the thigh outside a wedding at Newton香蕉视频直播檚 Guru Nanak temple.
There were rumours in 2015 that the case had just been settled out of court, and at the time, Tom Gill said it would be 香蕉视频直播減remature香蕉视频直播� to comment.
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