The Liberal candidate for Etobicoke-Centre has apologized for what he now calls a ”hurtful” and ”offensive” article on the gay community,  including his observation ”the term homophobia is being tossed around like confetti.”

Noel Semple will remain on Steven Del Duca’s team; unlike three other Liberal candidates dumped this week.

After reviewing the remarks that appeared in the U of T student newspaper 18 years ago, the Liberal leader Steven Del Duca is standing by Semple.

”Enough is enough.  Eighteen years ago, Noel Semple wrote an article in a student paper opposing a new student levy,” Del Duca added in a statement.

”In the same article, he denounced homophobes.  He  is not and was not a homophobe.”

The decision means the Liberals will have candidates in all but 2 of Ontario’s 124 ridings.

After dropping three candidates this week, the party quickly came up with one for Sault Ste. Marie ahead of Thursday’s nominations deadline.

The NDP says in a statement the Liberals cannot defeat Doug Ford because for the first time in 40 years, they don’t have a full slate of candidates.

The New Democrats point out how since 1981, under five successive leaders, the Liberals ran full slates.