Progressive Conservative leader Doug Ford says his candidate, Stephen Lecce, has his full support, a day after Lecce apologized after a report on the so-called “slave auction” was published during his time as leader of a fraternity at the university.
Ford said Lecce acknowledged that this was inappropriate, apologized and was a strong supporter of the fight against racism in schools when he was minister of education.
“He’s sorry. That’s something he did when he was 19 and was at university. He apologized for it. He said it was inappropriate. I believe it’s inappropriate,” Ford said during a campaign stop in Kitchener. in Thursday.
PressProgress, an agency founded and funded by the left-wing Broadbent Institute, published a story Tuesday night alleging that while Lecce was a student at Western University, he participated in a 2006 event called the “slave auction” in Sigma Chi.
The fraternity has no official relationship with the western.
WATCH Ford pressed in time between answering questions from the media on the trail:
PC leader Doug Ford insisted on not answering more questions from the media
Ford says he is “not ashamed” of sending messages, but does not say why he and computer candidates across the province do not give more interviews.
In a statement, Lecce did not deny his participation and said he “unreservedly” apologizes and will defend the interests of all Ontarians, regardless of religion, heritage, orientation or race.
Three NDP candidates who were members of the party’s black group during the previous government said in a joint statement that slavery was no joke and called on Ford to remove Lecce as a candidate.
The Ontario Primary Teachers’ Federation said Leche’s actions raised serious concerns about his understanding of anti-black racism and its ability to serve black students, families and employees.
Ford says it will “tighten” MPP quota rules
During the campaign, Ford was also asked about revelations that at least seven lawmakers who had served in his government – six of whom were running for PC in the election – had received thousands of dollars in local allowances. your riding associations.
Lisa McLeod, who is running for re-election as a Nepian rider, has taken more than $ 44,000 since 2018. Meanwhile, Khalid Rashid, a PC candidate in Mississauga East-Cooksville, took $ 23,000 over the same period.
In total, the seven MPPs received more than $ 120,000 in so-called supplements.
Riding associations receive funds from political donations, fundraising events and money that come from taxpayers in the form of subsidies for each vote.
Ford said he was “not very happy” when he learned about the allowances and that if personal computers formed a government, he would sit down with other parties in Queen’s Park to “take a good look at these rules and tighten them up.”
Ford also stressed that all costs are approved at the local level, permitted under the Ontario Election Guidelines and independent audits.
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