Fort McMurray-Conklin Alberta Party byelection candidate apologizes for racial slur

An Alberta Party byelectioncandidate is apologizing for using the N-wordin a social mediapost written five years ago.

Sid Fayad, the party's candidate in the Fort McMurray-Conklin byelection,typed the racial slur in the comment section of aFacebook post.

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The comment was written in response to one person's Facebook post proclaiming "the n--geris back."

Fayadresponded, "He's the realf--kinn--gger. What can I sayhahahah."

The Alberta Party issued a written statementincluding an apology fromFayad.

"I'm very sorry and I apologize for the remarks that I've made. It was five years ago, and it is not a reflection of my beliefs or how I conduct myself today," Fayad said in the statement.

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A second statement was released by the party Sunday evening which suggestedFayad'ssocial media comments wereinfluenced by the music he listened to at the time.

"In 2013, my friends and I were into rap culture,"Fayadsaid in the second statement. "As some of you might know, it tends to be full of profanity and refers to people with names that are not acceptable, and viewed as offensive."

Fayadremains the Alberta Party's candidate in the upcoming FortMcMurray-Conklinbyelectionto be heldJuly 12.

Alberta Party Leader Stephen Mandelis standing by his candidate.

"Mr. Fayadhas apologized publicly," Mandelsaid in the same statement. "We accept his apology."

Mandel added that the party only recently became aware of the Facebook comment, but noted "this comment was made a number of years ago and is not a reflection of who he is or what he's about now."

Connect with David Thurton, CBC'sFort McMurraycorrespondent, onFacebook,Twitter,LinkedInor email him atdavid.thurton@cbc.ca