UPDATED: NDP candidate drops out after saying she wants to be black to better understand alcoholism, poverty

The woke mind virus affecting many Canadian progressive politicians, political candidates, academics and entertainers has become more virulent and embarrassing.

Canada has seen a number of people, usually high-profile white women, wanting to become, or pretending to be, a member of a marginalized group. Usually indigenous "pretendians." Singer Buffy Sainte-Marie is an example.

Ontario NDP candidate for Elgin-Middlesex-London Amanda Zavitz doesn't claim to be anything she is not. But she wants to be black. Now she has dropped out of the Ontario election.

In a recent debate she said, "As a Caucasian woman, I wish that I could identify as a black woman so I could actually live that experience of living in poverty, facing addiction and alcoholism every single day."

Zavitz was responding to a question about supporting vulnerable populations — people experiencing poverty, homelessness, and addiction.

She continued, expressing frustration with the provincial government’s policies under Premier Doug Ford, making accusations of "legislating people into poverty."

Zavitz holds a PhD and teaches sociology at Fanshawe College and Western University in Ontario.

She has campaigned on health care, affordability, and social equity, aligning with the Ontario NDP’s platform under leader Marit Stiles.