Andrea Horwath stands by Gurratan Singh who held anti-cop sign

The NDP Leader of Ontario Andrea Horwath stands by a Gurratan Singh, a prominent candidate who has come under fire for carrying a protest sign that said “F– the police” more than a decade ago.

Singh, the candidate for Brampton East and brother of federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, apologized for his actions after a photo of the 2006 incident was published by the Toronto Sun.

Horwath said that she believes Singh, a lawyer, no longer holds those opinions and upholds the justice system.

She said,“I believe that’s it’s a despicable sentiment, and Gurratan actually has said so as well.He’s very regretful that he held that sign a number of years ago, but look, Gurratan has changed his life around.”

The photo was published Monday by right-leaning newspaper columnist Joe Warmington, who called Singh’s actions “pathetic.”

Reaction of other Leaders:

Liberal Leader Kathleen Wynne called the image “disturbing” and said Horwath will have to explain how she can stand by her candidate.

She said, “If this were a candidate on my team, I would not be able to support his candidacy.”

Burlington Liberal candidate Eleanor McMahon, whose late husband was a police officer, said Horwath should to ask Singh to step aside. She said the photo would make his job as a legislator “incredibly difficult.”

“How does he sit across from police officers now, and as a legislator, especially in the provincial government where our job is to uphold public institutions, and enhance and maintain confidence in them, how does he play a role as a Member of Provincial Parliament?