Liberal candidate struggles to answer question about his real estate flipping in cringeworthy interview

Liberal MP candidate Taleeb Noormohamed evaded questions and fumbled his responses Friday on the property homes scandal that recently surfaced. The candidate bought and sold at least 25 homes in the Metro Vancouver area.

"How much have you profited on those properties in the past decade?" asked a CTV News reporter. Noormohamed replied: "You know, I think it's important to talk about." Fumbling, he added: "I’m going to answer that question again."

The reporter repeated his question: "How much have you profited on those sales?"

After responding with, "When you ask," Noormohamed fumbled again, asking the reporter to repeat his question.

"How much have you profited personally or business-wise on the sales of those properties in the last decade?" asked the reporter for a third time.

"While I can't give you an exact number, what I can tell you is that it is by no means the number that has been put forward," said Noormohamed. "But what I can also tell you is that I am absolutely committed to any and all measures that we have put forward that would apply."

The reporter is still waiting for a number as of Saturday: "Bottom line: he doesn't seem to think or won't say that his past business dealings are a part of this unaffordability problem." Noormohamed assured the reporter that few voters have inquired about his property purchase history, pivoting to emphasize that he was committed to improving affordability if elected.

Photos emerged of the candidate Thursday hunkered down in his car while campaign volunteers door knocked for him. Vancouver-Granville resident Richard Lo said Noormohamed "parked in front of my house this afternoon and [sat] in the car for more than 30 [minutes] while his assistant door knocked."

"My neighbour talked to his assistant and said he won’t come out unless there are questions," tweeted Lo.

Amid criticism across the political spectrum, Noormohamed said he learned to focus on talking to the voters, "tuning out the noise," and hearing what’s important to them, reported CTV News.

"Help me understand how you can champion housing affordability and – at the same time – your leader is signalling you are part of the problem," CTV News asked Noormohamed Thursday. He answered: "Our plan, which is ambitious, talks about three critical components."

Noormohamed discussed renter protection, supply, and "unlocking housing ownership." The reporter asked: "Do you see yourself as a property flipper or speculator?" Noormohamed responded: "I see myself as someone who is absolutely committed to making sure we increase housing affordability, and I'm in favour of all the measures that are required to do that, that we've put forward."

He added that some of the properties in question were rentals while others were improved through renovations, then sold. Noormohammed tried to reassure the press that all his transactions were reported "appropriately."

Noormohamed has lived in three of at least 30 properties he has owned, rented and flipped. He currently owns five rental properties in Vancouver and West Vancouver. Records show the difference between the purchase and sale prices of the other 25 properties totaled over $4.2 million, not accounting for taxes, improvements to the properties, and other expenses. Noormohamed said his efforts now will focus on the campaign "and not anything else."

"So change, no change? Keep doing what you’ve been doing?" asked the reporter.

Noormohamed responded: "Focusing on the folks here and making sure I’m representing their interests," he said.