Ontario PC Leader Doug Ford reportedly made a controversial joke about reinstating the death penalty during a speech at a police chief gala in London, Ontario, in late January.
The Toronto Star first reported the incident on Thursday, citing a recording of Ford’s speech in which he mentioned giving judges the power to “send ’em right to sparky.” It’s worth noting that Canada abolished the death penalty several decades ago.
Following the report, a spokesperson for the PC Party issued a statement clarifying Ford’s comments. “The premier made a poor-taste joke out of frustration over the impact of violent criminals on our streets, which he attributes to the federal government’s flawed bail system and lenient crime policies,” the spokesperson explained.
The statement emphasized that Ford does not support capital punishment but believes in stricter measures to keep violent and repeat offenders behind bars.
During the event, Ford reportedly expressed concern about the consequences of crime, stating, “God forbid they kill an innocent person… I don’t even go 25 years. I send ’em right to sparky and then we’ll take everything from there.”
According to The Toronto Star, the joke was met with “sparse clapping and audible gasps” from the audience.