Controversial radio host Craig Chandler won the Progressive Conservative nomination for the provincial riding of Calgary-Egmont November 17, beating local lawyer Jonathan Denis and former city alderman Rick Smith.

Chandler hosts a radio program called the Freedom Radio Network, which allegedly “contains the truth — with talent on loan from God.” Titles of recent shows include “All Major Government Institutions are Failures,” “Scary Hillary and the Loony Left” and “Liberals Hate the Homeless.”

Chandler has said on his show that “God sees murder as equal to homosexuality.” On another show, he likened gay activists to Nazis. “It’s just like Nazi Germany where instead of going after the Jews, they’re going after the Christians,” Chandler said. (As part of a Canadian Human Rights Commission settlement, Chandler has agreed to “cease and desist” from putting information on the Internet suggesting “homosexuals are sick, diseased or mentally ill.”)

Chandler more recently made headlines in August when he wrote an Internet posting advising newcomer Albertans who don’t vote Conservative to leave the province. “Many of the people coming here do not truly appreciate Alberta or even understand the history of this province or the relationship with the Alberta Progressive Conservative party,” wrote Chandler on the Project Alberta website. “If you wish to live here, you must adapt to our rules and our voting patterns or leave.”

After he took fire in the media for his comments, Chandler edited the posting, replacing “Alberta Progressive Conservative party” with “small-c conservatism.” (The posting has been edited four times, according to the website.)

In 2004, outgoing Tory MLA Denis Herard won in Calgary-Egmont with 51 per cent of the popular vote. If Premier Ed Stelmach signs Chandler’s nomination papers (some Conservatives are advising him against it), Chandler will run against longtime Catholic school trustee Cathie Williams (Liberal) and public high school teacher Jason Nishiyama (NDP). The Green Party doesn’t have a candidate yet.