Waterloo Region Council Election Discussion

[Spokes]

If you read into Jane Mitchell's response to Beisan, it seems to paint a very different story, and adds more context that doesn't look good on Beisan at all.
"Beisan I hope you are not referring to me. If you are that is taking our conversation completely out of context and leaving out your part in it.
Today at lunch you approached me and requsted that I "step aside" so you could win. #wrvotes
Because you felt I was splitting the vote and my participation means the men will win. You told me you are a woman of colour, young and in the tech sector.
I replied to you that I had worked in tech and have worked side by side with ethnic groups. #wrvotes
To which you replied "ethnic" is not an appropriate word to use.
I feel sad that you feel that the only way to step into a post is to ask another woman to "step aside" I wish you nothing but the best in the coming election #wrvotes"

I would never refer to anyone as an "ethnic" (I am caucasian, with my family from Scotland, Ireland, and England, any of which technically is an ethnicity), but is it wrong to refer to groups formed to support different ethnicities "ethnic groups"? I've known Jane a long time, and she's anything but what Beisan's making her out to be. If I lived in Waterloo, frankly, the two of them would be getting my votes.

From my perspective, calling someone an "ethnic" as a noun is unacceptable, but using "ethnic" as an adjective can be perfectly acceptable based on context. For instance, the Canadian Charter and Ontario Human Rights Code both use the term "ethnic origin." 

If Mitchell's version is correct and she said she worked alongside "ethnic groups", I don't see the problem. It would probably have been more current to say "cultural groups", but I really wouldn't split hairs on that point. That being said, if Mitchell called Beisan an "ethnic", she is certainly in the wrong.

And then there's the context about Beisan asking Mitchell to drop out of the race. If that's true, I think that's quite a disappointing move by Besian, even if Mitchell's response was inappropriate. I would vote for neither of the two in that case.

I was surprised by this too.  Especially at this stage in the election.  It's still relatively early.  What incumbent would drop out this early.

If what Mitchell says is correct, why is Beisan making this a gender issue?