CHATHAM, Ont. — A senior campaign official for the Ontario Liberals is apologizing for a crude comment he made on live television about Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford.
David Herle, the campaign co-chair for Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, issued a statement this evening saying he regrets the comment and he apologizes “without qualification.”
Herle appeared on a panel discussion on Toronto TV station CP24 earlier in the day, where he compared Ford to his late brother, former Toronto mayor Rob Ford.
Herle said, “I think people liked Rob Ford and I think people think Doug Ford’s a bit of a dick, to be honest.”
Wynne, who’s fighting for re-election this spring, said earlier this evening that Herle should apologize but he would stay on in his position.
Doug Ford was set to respond to the comments at a campaign event in Chatham, Ont., later in the evening.
Ontarians go to the polls on June 7.
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STATEMENT FROM ONTARIO PC LEADER DOUG FORD
I wanted to address the inappropriate comments that Kathleen Wynne’s Campaign Chair made about me today.
I always say that I have thick skin. I have been called names before, but what bothers me the most is that he is insulting the people of Ontario that want to move this province forward. He is insulting my supporters which consist of PC, Liberal and NDP supporters.
We knew this was going to be a dirty campaign, but I’m going to take the high road.
This whole campaign, I haven’t done any name calling. I will hold Kathleen Wynne accountable for her record, but we are going to move forward on this campaign in a positive fashion.
She wants to distract from her record, but I am going to continue speaking about what people care about in Ontario: lowering taxes, making sure we reduce hydro rates, getting rid of the carbon tax, and creating great paying jobs.
That’s what we are going to focus on, what the people need to move this province forward.
