Daniel Joseph resigned as constituency president over the weekend - even though he had already been replaced - noting serious problems of racism and xenophobia in the People's Party of Canada.

Image Credit: FACEBOOK/Daniel Joseph

KELOWNA - Accusations of racism by the ousted president of the Kelowna-Lake Country People’s Party of Canada riding association is just sour grapes, according to the man who replaced him more than a week ago

Over the weekend, Daniel Joseph posted a video on his Facebook page saying he resigned as president of the Kelowna-Lake Country riding association and accused the regional director of being “racist, xenophobic, homophobic and just downright hateful.”

Peter Neville told iNFOnews.ca today, April 1, that he replaced Joseph as president at a March 24 board meeting.

“We knew he was black when we elected him so how does that make us racist?” Neville said. “He’s spraying out accusations not because of racism and sexism, etc., but because he got annoyed with us because he wanted to run the association in his own way. And of course, in a political party you have to stick with the party’s policies and message and all that kind of thing or you’re going to have a hopeless mess. He didn’t want to do that. When he was reprimanded about that he quit. It had nothing to do with racism or anything.”

Neville said Joseph was not following the party's policies and procedures.

“I’ve had extensive talks and contact with members of our association,” Neville said. “I never heard anybody make any kind of racist, sexist, homophobic or anything else kind of comments that I can remember and I would have objected if they did because I’m that way myself. I think the fact we elected the guy as president puts a lie to what he said. Actions speak louder than words.”

Neville served as president of the Conservative party in Kelowna-Lake Country for two years between 2007 and 2009 before quitting the party.

He was on the board of directors when the People’s Party formed in Kelowna last fall and said he voted for Joseph as president, but he was away on vacation for a few weeks prior to Joseph running into conflict with the regional director Glen Walushka.

In the video, Joseph said he joined the party in November of last year because he believed in its message of doing politics differently from a "definitively flawed system."

However, he noted the party proved to be dominated by xenophobic, hateful voices that don't represent the interests of Canadians. He said he was voicing his displeasure in the hopes it could cause changes in the party. He stated his concerns were often ignored by the party.

Joseph said he knows this video might damage the party, but he hopes it serves as a "wake-up call" and makes the group stronger.

Maxime Bernier started the People's Party in September of last year after he resigned from the Conservative party over a litany of disagreements.

 — With files from Sean Mott

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