Kiefer Sutherland has played the hero onscreen many times, but now he's stepping up and taking a stand IRL against Ontario Premier Doug Ford. The Canadian actor has spoken out against the provincial Conservatives' policies and asked Ford to stop comparing himself to the actor's grandfather, Tommy Douglas.
Douglas was the premier of Saskatchewan from 1944 to 1961, during which time he enacted a universal health care system that went on to be adopted by the rest of Canada. He later served as the first leader of the federal New Democratic Party from 1961 to 1971.
Ford, meanwhile, has recently cut $1 billion from Toronto Public Health, as well as millions in funding for stem cell research, women's shelters, OHIP coverage outside of Canada, safe injection sites, local health integration networks, the Ontario College of Midwives, sex education in schools, child prescription subsidies and autism programs in schools — all before he and his staff take off on a five-month vacation.
As such, many were confused when the Conservatives compared themselves to Douglas recently, claiming he would have been proud of Ford's mandate to restore "fiscal sanity."
Sutherland — who is the grandson of Douglas (his mother Shirley Douglas was the daughter of the Saskatchewan premier) — seemed particularly taken aback by the use of his grandfather's name by Ford. He took to Twitter this morning to remind Ford that although Douglas managed to budget the provincial budget, he didn't do so "at the expense of social and human services to those in need."
He asked Ford and his Conservatives refrain from using Douglas' name and image in the future, and concluded by warning Ford that he's "lucky my mum's not active on Twitter."
Read his scathing reaction to Ford in its entirety below.
Douglas was the premier of Saskatchewan from 1944 to 1961, during which time he enacted a universal health care system that went on to be adopted by the rest of Canada. He later served as the first leader of the federal New Democratic Party from 1961 to 1971.
Ford, meanwhile, has recently cut $1 billion from Toronto Public Health, as well as millions in funding for stem cell research, women's shelters, OHIP coverage outside of Canada, safe injection sites, local health integration networks, the Ontario College of Midwives, sex education in schools, child prescription subsidies and autism programs in schools — all before he and his staff take off on a five-month vacation.
As such, many were confused when the Conservatives compared themselves to Douglas recently, claiming he would have been proud of Ford's mandate to restore "fiscal sanity."
"It's time to make government work for the people again — not the other way around.
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) June 2, 2019
I think Tommy Douglas would approve." – @MacLeodLisahttps://t.co/YWp1RoxqY9
Sutherland — who is the grandson of Douglas (his mother Shirley Douglas was the daughter of the Saskatchewan premier) — seemed particularly taken aback by the use of his grandfather's name by Ford. He took to Twitter this morning to remind Ford that although Douglas managed to budget the provincial budget, he didn't do so "at the expense of social and human services to those in need."
He asked Ford and his Conservatives refrain from using Douglas' name and image in the future, and concluded by warning Ford that he's "lucky my mum's not active on Twitter."
Read his scathing reaction to Ford in its entirety below.
.@fordnation @MacLeodLisa pic.twitter.com/ESPnxARaEu
— Kiefer Sutherland (@RealKiefer) June 10, 2019
