Ontario premier and MPP speak out against alleged hate incident in Muskoka

Ontario Premier Doug Ford | Parry Sound-Muskoka MPP Graydon Smith | Brampton East MPP Hardeep Grewal

Ontario Premier Doug Ford and MPP Graydon Smith are speaking out against a disturbing incident of hate speech allegedly directed at MPP Hardeep Grewal in Muskoka.

According to a social media post on Sunday by Grewal, the incident happened while he and his family visited cottage country. The Brampton East MPP was enjoying ice cream when he says two strangers shared “their hate.”

“One yelled, ‘Hey turban head, go home,’ before speeding off. Another, walking by, said, ‘You all should die’,” the post read.

Grewal noted this wasn’t the first time he’s experienced this type of behaviour, adding he felt “compelled to speak out,” calling the situation “exhausting and painful.”

His post went on to read, “Ontario is our home. It belongs to all of us.”

Ford took to social media in response to the alleged incident.

“Our province is built on the kind of respect, diversity and inclusion that make our communities stronger. Hardeep is a dedicated public servant and a valued member of our party and caucus,” the premier wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “I’m extremely disappointed he had to experience this hateful language.”

Smith, MPP for Parry Sound-Muskoka, also condemned the incident on social media.

“I’m sick reading this,” he wrote. “Hardeep and his family are not only visitors to our area — which we should always be grateful for — he’s also my caucus colleague, my friend, and, to all who know him, a man of kindness. Racism is unacceptable. Period. I stand with him.”

Both Ford and Smith echoed Grewal’s message of resilience, with Smith directly referencing Grewal’s statement that “hate never wins.”

The post garnered nearly 2,000 comments by the time of this article’s publication, most in support of the Brampton East MPP. Grewal did not specify which town the alleged incident took place within the district.