Ontario Premier Doug Ford says his government will audit groups receiving funds from the province, claiming that some of them “funnel it quietly to these left-wing radical groups.”
“We’re doing audits that (the Ontario NDP and Liberals) never, ever did. We’re the ones bringing auditors in there to find every single dollar waste. And you know what else we’re going to audit, Madam Speaker? All these great organizations that funnel money to ACORN, like CUPE and all the rest of them,” the premier said during Tuesday’s Question Period.
“We will be auditing all these so-called charitable organizations that are funnelling money. Just stay tuned on that one.”
Ford’s remarks came a day after protesters, including members of the tenant advocacy group ACORN, disrupted the vote on Bill 60, which critics say will make it easier for landlords to evict tenants.
Protesters chanted “people over profit” and “shame” during the vote, prompting the speaker to clear the public gallery.
Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles came to the defence of the protesters on Tuesday, saying the legislature is “the people’s house.”
“This is not your house. You shut down democracy, and you will see the consequences,” Stiles said during Question Period, responding to PC MPP Tyler Asslopp, who accused the protesters of “disrupting democracy” and throwing things at the members of the party.
Speaking to reporters, the premier later clarified that all groups will be audited and it is “standard operating procedure” to ensure that the money is being spent as intended.
“I’m not directing anyone. I’m going to make sure the process just continues. It’s not up to me to say, audit this, audit that. But we audit everyone we can that receives money from the government. And it’s just making sure that what they say they’re doing, they’re doing,” Ford said.
The premier called those who disrupted the legislature on Monday “professional protesters,” claiming that they were paid by some groups.
“I’ve seen these folks all the way back to my (Toronto) city hall days,” Ford said.
“I can tell you, if we brought our supporters in and they acted that way, oh my goodness, it’s a whole different story.”
When asked if he regretted telling a protester on Monday to get a job, Ford said no. The premier yelled, “Go find a job, buddy,” as one protester was being ejected.
He defended the bill, saying he has received thousands of calls from people who have been having a hard time getting renters out of their basement apartments.
“What I’m focused on are the mom-and-pops that have saved their life savings to go out and maybe buy another condo or rent out their basement apartment to have additional income. And there are professionals that go in there, and they won’t move in, and they won’t move out,” Ford said.
“I just want to create a balance for tenants and landlords, get rid of the bad apples on both sides and create more housing for everyone,” he added.
The province has said the changes are meant to speed up proceedings at the Landlord and Tenant Board.
However, the opposition argued that the problems at the LTB are entirely caused by the Ford government, which it said has refused to fund and hire enough adjudicators.
“He’s getting emotional because we’re getting to the bottom of what his government is up to with their two and a half billion dollar pay-to-play scheme,” Stiles later told reporters when asked about the premier’s audit threat, referring to allegations surrounding the Skills Development Fund.
“He doesn’t like the questions that I’m asking the minister of labour, and so he’s throwing insults, and he’s feeling out of control.”
Stiles admitted that she did not know what Ford meant when he said he would audit charitable organizations.
“To me, what I saw today was the premier getting a little unhinged,” she said.
With files from CP24 digital journalist Joshua Freeman
