In a shocking turn of events, the Conservative Party of Canada has disqualified four candidates from the federal election campaign within just two days, creating quite a stir in the political landscape as the election draws near.

The dismissals began on Tuesday, when three candidates from Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia were informed they would not represent the party. A fourth candidate was stripped of their candidacy the following day. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre addressed the press regarding these removals, emphasizing the party’s stringent vetting process. 'Our vetting is stronger than all the other parties. That’s why we maintain a zero-tolerance policy for unacceptable behavior,' he declared at a campaign event in Kingston, Ontario.

Here’s a closer look at the candidates who have been ousted and the controversies surrounding their dismissals:

1. Mark McKenzie

The municipal councillor from Windsor, Ontario, was the first casualty. McKenzie faced backlash for past comments he made on a 2022 comedy podcast, where he suggested that former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should face the death penalty, along with joking about public hangings. Despite stating that his remarks were intended as humor, the party promptly removed him from the roster after reviewing the content. 'I regret those comments; they were in poor taste,' he admitted, expressing disappointment at being dropped so abruptly.

2. Stefan Marquis

Acting as the Conservative candidate for the Quebec riding of Laurier – Sainte-Marie, Marquis announced his dismissal via a post on X (formerly Twitter). He stated that certain tweets had led party officials to sever ties with him, but did not clarify which specific posts were deemed problematic. Critically, he described his removal as a loss for the party, stating that they had let go of a 'devoted ally' during a challenging political climate.

3. Lourence Singh

Singh was the third candidate removed, running for the British Columbia riding of New Westminster-Burnaby-Maillardville. Although a party spokesperson confirmed his removal, no reason was initially provided. Singh later revealed that he had been informed of the basis for his dismissal during a brief phone conversation but opted not to disclose the details. He is currently appealing the decision.

4. Don Patel

The fourth candidate, who was contesting in the Etobicoke North riding in Toronto, faced removal after endorsing a social media post that suggested deporting individuals to India to deal with 'nonsense people' under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's governance. This endorsement was labeled 'clearly unacceptable' by the Conservative party spokesperson, emphasizing the party's commitment to upholding the safety and security of all Canadians.

These events unfold amid a backdrop of controversies within the Liberal Party as well, with Liberal candidate Paul Chiang resigning due to inflammatory remarks made earlier in the year. Similarly, the Liberals have seen their share of candidates removed as party leaders navigate internal scrutiny.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has so far avoided similar controversies and expressed readiness to make the best decisions for the party as issues arise.

As the election campaign continues to heat up, many are left wondering how these disqualifications will impact both the Conservative Party's reputation and the upcoming election dynamics.

Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops!