Doug Ford says he supports Stephen Lecce after apology for fraternity 'slave auction'
CBC
Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford says his candidate Stephen Lecce has his full support, a day after Lecce apologized in the wake of a published report about a so-called "slave auction" during his time as a fraternity leader in university.
Ford said Lecce acknowledged it was inappropriate, has said sorry, and has been a strong advocate of combating racism in schools during his time as education minister.
"He's sorry. This is something he did when he was 19 years old and in university. He apologized for this. He said it was inappropriate. I believe it's inappropriate," Ford said during a campaign stop in Kitchener Thursday.
PressProgress, an outlet founded and funded by the left-leaning Broadbent Institute, published a story Tuesday night alleging that while Lecce was a Western University student he participated in a 2006 event dubbed a "slave auction" at Sigma Chi.
The fraternity has has no formal affiliation with Western.
WATCH | Ford pressed on time between taking questions from media on the trail:
In a statement, Lecce did not deny his participation and said that he "unreservedly" apologizes and will advance the interests of all Ontarians, regardless of faith, heritage, orientation or race.
Three NDP candidates, who were members of the party's Black caucus during the previous government, said in a joint statement that slavery is not a joke and called on Ford to remove Lecce as a candidate.
The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario has said Lecce's actions raise serious concerns about his understanding of anti-Black racism and his ability to serve students, families and staff who are Black.
During the campaign stop Ford was also asked about revelations that at least seven MPPs who served in his government — six of whom are running as PC candidates in this election — received thousands of dollars in the form of allowance from their local riding associations.
Lisa MacLeod, who is seeking re-election in the riding of Nepean, took more than $44,000 since 2018. Meanwhile, Kaleed Rasheed, PC candidate in Mississauga East–Cooksville took $23,000 in that same period.
In total, the seven MPPs received more than $120,000 in so-called top-ups.
Riding associations receive funds from political donations, fundraising events and money that comes from taxpayers in the form of per-vote subsidies.
Ford said he "wasn't too happy" when he learned about the allowances and that, if the PCs form government, he would sit down with the other parties at Queen's Park to take a "good, hard look at these rules and tighten them up."
Tens of thousands of Nova Scotia Power customers are waking up without power on Saturday morning after high winds and rain hit the province on Friday night.
Statistics Canada is reporting a population decrease last quarter for New Brunswick — its largest quarterly decline since the 1970s, according to an economic development consultant.
Residents clapped, danced, sang and cried in the Anishinaabe community of Kitcisakik this week when the lights were finally turned on for the first time.
A man is suing three members of a Winnipeg family and a real estate broker he alleges used his intellectual disability to financially exploit him through property deals in Canada and India, leaving him out hundreds of thousands of dollars.
When Stephanie Gamble watched her mother model the first dress she made, smiling wide and walking an imaginary runway, she knew that was what she wanted to keep doing in her life.
'Tis the season for cuddling on the couch with a cup of hot chocolate and watching holiday movies. And for people in B.C.'s Interior, that can increasingly mean seeing their home communities on display.
Every year, snowy owls spread their wings and migrate down to the Prairies, where they enjoy access to plenty of rodent prey in vast open spaces.
This month has been a busy stretch at the Upper Room Food Bank in Charlottetown.
N.W.T. Education Minister Caitlin Cleveland says she has received the final report from an independent investigation into education bodies in the Dehcho region.
P.E.I.’s auditor general says he’s concerned and disappointed that the projected deficit has doubled what government initially estimated it would be — and he's urging the province to balance its budget.
A man found not criminally responsible for stabbing five people to death at a Calgary house party is getting more freedoms but not an absolute discharge.
A man has been found guilty of second-degree murder in the shooting death of a Toronto mother outside a supervised consumption site in Leslieville.
Russian olive trees — sometimes known as silver berry or oleaster — are small, ornamental plants with silvery leaves and black bark, and small yellow flowers and silver fruit that look like miniature olives. They’re pretty, but they’re a problem.