Ontario opposition leaders call on Ford to apologize for remark about immigrants

Ontario's opposition leaders are criticizing Premier Doug Ford for a comment he made about immigrants.

Ford was in Tecumseh, Ont., near Windsor, Ont., on Monday to announce funding for the planning of a new hospital in the region.

After the announcement, Ford launched into a familiar line about Ontario's biggest problem being a shortage of workers, particularly in the trades and construction.

He said people who want to work should come to Ontario.

"You come here like every other new Canadian has come here, you work your tail off," Ford said.

"If you think you're coming to collect the dole and sit around, not gonna happen. Go somewhere else. You want to work, come here. We have so much work, we can't keep up with it right now."

WATCH | Doug Ford won't back down on comments about immigrants: 

Doug Ford won’t apologize for comments about immigrants

3 years ago

Duration 2:01

Despite criticism from the public and opposition parties, Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he won’t apologize for saying he only wants hard-working people to come to Canada, adding that he has always been pro-immigration.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said in a tweet that Ford should apologize.

"Today, Doug Ford chose to traffic in demeaning stereotypes about new Ontarians looking to build a better life for their families," she wrote.

"Our diverse, welcoming province deserves better."

Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca also called on the premier to apologize, saying the comments were "callous."

"This kind of divisive language is deeply disappointing," he said.

"A premier is supposed to unite Ontarians, not wedge us further apart."