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RYSWYK STORY POLARIZES READERS IN SOCIAL NETWORKS

Dayleen Van Ryswyk is going on her own.

The NDP election signs were barely taken down when the former candidate announced today that she will run as an independent MLA. She was forced to resign her party position due to what some called racist comments posted on a local message board. She confirmed her intentions to local media today.

"The support has been phenomenal all across the country!" she posted to Twitter, still with the handle @dayleenndp. "People really want a true independent voice. Stay tuned Kelowna."

The owner of Okanagan Koi Ponds has become a polarizing figure since her identity on the forums was somehow confirmed and exposed by the B.C. Liberals earlier this week. B.C. NDP leader Adrian Dix asked for her resignation and she appeared to be out of the race. The NDP said late Wednesday that Tish Lakes would once again represent the Kelowna-Mission riding.

Among her comments: “Seems the only group of people universally hated around the world other than the Americans are the french and FRENCH CANADIANS…the bigots are the french and not us….” (sic)"

And this one about Natives: "If their ancestors sold out too cheap it’s not my fault and I shouldn’t have to be paying for any mistake or whatever you want to call it from MY hard earned money.”

But while she has been criticized and villified across the Internet for her comments, she has also gained plenty of support. On Twitter and Facebook, the comments came fast and hard: "Van Ryswyk's views would be pretty uncontroversial in Alberta. Maybe (she) should run for the Wildrose," one poster wrote. Another said: "Dayleen Van Ryswyk's comments were to the right of Attila the Hun... Welcome to the campaign, folks, where anything can happen." The photo above was being passed around on Facebook this morning.

But with it has come plenty of support. From Facebook: "What a load. At least half the people I know think exactly what Dayleen Van Ryswyk put in writing, but would never say publicly for this exact reason." On Twitter: I hope Dayleen Van Ryswyk runs as (an) independent. Vote for the Ex NDP candidate."

For more, see comments on some of the original news stories on her resignation.

Yahoo

CBC British Columbia

Huffington Post

News from © iNFOnews, 2013