Screen grab from Facebook comments made in 2010 by Lorrie Steeves, wife of Winnipeg, Manitoba, mayoral candidate Gord Steeves. Image from Darlene J / Twitter

Mayoral candidate Gord Steeves broke his silence today on racist comments made by his wife but he declined to offer an apology to the Native community in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Steeves said his wife, Lorrie, was "scared" and "very angry" when she lashed out against "drunken Native guys" in a Facebook post on February 11, 2010.

"We know the comments were wrong. Lorrie acknowledges that," Steeves said this afternoon, CBC News reported.

Steeves, however, didn't say why he waited four days to respond to the controversy -- the comments came to light on Friday. He also didn't say why he didn't notice the post, which remained on Facebook for more than four years.

"My wife apologized. I support her on those comments," Steeves said, The Winnipeg Free Press reported. "I love her and I stand with her."

Steeves did offer some details on an alleged incident that prompted his wife's racist comments. She apparently became scared of a "large" man in the skywalk system in downtown Winnipeg and believed he was going to grab her but nothing happened.

Sometime after that incident, Steeves said "three Native panhandlers" approached his wife and asked for money. When she refused, one of them allegedly asked why she hated Native people, the candidate said.

Get the Story:
Gord Steeves defends wife, tries to explain racist comments (CBC 8/12)
Steeves addresses wife's Facebook post (The Winnipeg Fres Press 8/12)
Robert Falcon Ouellette opening door to soul of city, bridging divide (CBC 8/12)
Homeless respond to Lorrie Steeves racist 'handout' comments (CBC 8/11)
Calls for mayoral candidate Steeves to address 'drunken native guys' comment made by wife (CTV 8/11)

An Opinion:
Editorial: What Gord Steeves should say today (The Winnipeg Free Press 8/12)

Related Stories:
Mayoral candidate's wife apologizes for 'drunken Natives' post (8/8)