It has been four days since Ontario Prime Minister Doug Ford announced his new cabinet, and people are still angry about one specific appointment: his own nephew as Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism.
Wrong, wrong, wrong on so many levels.
– Liz Onli Wiseman🇨🇦🇺🇦 (@ LizWiseman15) June 24, 2022
The decision is widely seen as an act of nepotism, with many criticizing not only family ties but also the blatant fact that a 28-year-old white man (the third youngest to take such a position) may not be the best candidate for a position focused. on the diversity of the countryside.
This is far from, say, the election of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for his first cabinet in 2015, which included a doctor for health minister, an astronaut for transport minister, a scientist for science minister, a former Canadian armed forces member for minister of defense and more people with unique qualifications.
(Instead, Ford named a man accused of violating endangered species laws as his natural resources minister.)
Doug Ford’s nephew Michael Ford has just been appointed Ontario’s Secretary of Citizenship and Multiculturalism.
Multiculturalism. This person. correct. pic.twitter.com/viKtDv2B2z
– AL.Content (@ alcontent416) June 24, 2022
It is clear that people are not happy – though perhaps not surprised – by the choice the prime minister has stepped up to defend in the face of criticism.
“Michael has a wealth of experience, has been democratically elected four times already: two years as a school trustee, eight years as a city councilor, and then just won a seat in York South Weston that we haven’t won in 71 years,” Ford he said when he was pushed on the subject during an unrelated press conference on Monday.
“And let me just point out from the side of multiculturalism: Etobicoke-North is one of the most multicultural areas in the whole province. We have worked very closely, not only Michael for the last 10 years of his career, but also me and my brother Rob … I think he will do an extremely good job, he has a lot of knowledge. “
As a former spokesman for the Ontario Secretary of State, I assure you that this move has nothing to do with caring for the needs of Ontario’s newcomers, nor with growing a more diverse province and opening doors to different cultures. It’s about guerrilla recruitment. / 2
– Tim Abrey (@timabray) June 24, 2022
The older Ford also noted that his sister’s son has been elected an official “more than probably 60 percent of our group” and called on Toronto Mayor John Torrey, who was also at the briefing to discuss affordable housing, to advocate for Michael.
“I can talk to you as a person who understands the experience that your name makes people form stereotypical impressions of what you are capable of and what you are not capable of and why you can be where you are.
He also noted that he has personally worked with the younger Ford, placing him on the city’s police council and audit committee in recent years.
“I can tell you that he is careful, hardworking and understands his community like anyone else … he will work hard. So give him a chance.
Please see below for a list of Doug Ford’s nephew’s qualifications for a provincial cabinet position:
– Jeff Brown (@ jwbrown556) June 24, 2022
Torrey is also not the only political figure in Toronto to show support for the new minister: Toronto Center MP and former city councilor Christine Wong-Tam, an active supporter of diversity and inclusion, posted a photo with Michael on Monday.
“Political differences have never stopped @MichaelFordTO, @marymargaretbey and I from being friends and working together on the Toronto City Council,” Wong-Tam wrote with a photo of the co-eating trio.
“Today we had the opportunity to catch up and share ideas for future collaboration at Queen’s Park.”
Political differences have never stopped @MichaelFordTO @marymargaretbey and I from being friends and working together on the Toronto City Council. Today we had the opportunity to catch up and share ideas for future cooperation in Queen’s Park. #ONpoli pic.twitter.com/zbY3uOCMsM
– Kristin Wong-Tam 黃慧文 (@kristynwongtam) June 27, 2022
She also admitted that she had “different feelings” towards the minister, including, unfortunately, unnecessary comments about his weight, which she wrote were not welcome.
Like his uncles before him, Michael has already been the subject of public stigmatization of fat, which is clearly not the way to question his qualification as a leader if people try to do so.
In defense of his nephew’s appointment to the cabinet, @fordnation stressed that Michael Ford was “twice democratically elected” to the TO city council. Was there a coup proposal? 🤔 Running in the ward his uncles kept under the name of their uncles “Ford” did no harm.
– Robert Fisher (@politicsfisher) June 28, 2022
It’s certainly not the first time a politician has hired a family member or close friend, and the political background of so many Ford family members, including Michael, really makes it more than just randomly appointing a loved one.
Luckily for the prime minister, he faces more than a fair share of the reprimand during his term, so he should have very thick skin by now – something that, because of Michael, we hope works in the family.
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