Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Parry Sound-Muskoka MPP Graydon Smith took to social media to respond to a post by MPP Hardeep Grewal about his visit to Huntsville.
Grewal, a Sikh MPP for Brampton East and Associate Minister of Transportation, took to X on Sunday and expressed his disappointment at hateful slurs directed at him and his family while enjoying ice cream during a visit to Huntsville.
“It is not the first time this has happened, but today I feel compelled to speak out about how exhausting and painful it is. Today in downtown Muskoka, while sharing ice cream with my family, two strangers decided to share their hate instead. One yelled, “Hey turban head, go home,” before speeding off. Another, walking by, said, “You all should die.” In that moment, I was reminded that the fight against hate is far from over. But our strength is louder. Ontario is our home. It belongs to all of us. To my Sikh brothers and sisters, stay vigilant, stay proud, and stay strong. Hate never wins. Good will always triumph.”
Parry Sound-Muskoka MPP Graydon Smith responded, noting that racism is unacceptable and that hate never wins.
“I’m sick reading this. Hardeep and his family are not only visitors to our area — which we should always be grateful for — he’s also my caucus colleague, my friend, and, to all who know him, a man of kindness. Racism is unacceptable. Period. I stand with him. Hate never wins,” he stated.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford also weighed in. “Our province is built on the kind of respect, diversity and inclusion that make our communities stronger. Hardeep is a dedicated public servant and a valued member of our party and caucus. I’m extremely disappointed he had to experience this hateful language.”
Doppler reached out to MPP Grewal’s office but did not receive a response.
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