Doug Ford lashes out at protestors, union leader following uproar over Bill 60

Premier Doug Ford was lashing out today over Monday’s protest uproar in the Ontario legislature.

Ford appeared to be threatening to retaliate against the groups involved in the protest and called for a prominent Ontario union leader who was there to be fired from his job.

Less than a day after protestors shouted down the legislature to fight the government’s controversial Bill 60 rental law, Ford fired back.

“The shenanigans that happened yesterday, throwing stuff from the rafters, is absolutely disgusting,” Ford said. “It’s disgusting behaviour…I fight every single day for every single person. I don’t care about their creed, colour or race, unlike you inviting Fred Hahn, the anti-Semitic racist in here.”

Hahn is president of CUPE Ontario.

Last year, he apologized over an expression of support for Palestinians in Gaza that some felt went too far.

Along with Hahn, Ford went after demonstrators including the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN).

READ MORE: Protesters disrupt Ontario legislature over Bill 60 landlord and tenant law

Ford accused ACORN of being paid professional protestors.

Ford appeared particularly upset over someone throwing what looked like a piece of crumpled paper from the gallery.

While speaking in legislature Tuesday morning, Ford expressed his frustration.

“Isn’t that unbelievable?” Ford asked. “These people get invited into the gallery and they start throwing stuff – hit one of my ministers in the head.”

Ford also raised the threat of government audits of the protest groups and possibly others.

“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 ’em,” Ford said.

Ford wasn’t clear whether he’s going to “order” an audit or if any audits will just be part of regular government business.

Hamilton ACORN member Amanda Dick said the protestors were not paid to be there. She said they were peaceful if loud.

She says they’re not worried about the audit threat and the premier was wrong to tell one of them to “get a job.”

READ MORE: Passage of housing bill sparks protest, clearing of Queen’s Park public gallery

“I don’t think exercising our right to free speech was ever wrong,” Dick said. “His reaction has been largely inappropriate.”

Dick said the comment Ford made is “just not behaviour that’s befitting the premier of Ontario.”

Hahn says Ford’s call for him to be fired is an attempt to distract from Bill 60’s impact on water systems.

“It’s been a couple years since the premier sunk to schoolyard bully level and started calling me names in the legislature.” Hahn said, “Yesterday was not about Fred vs. Ford or Ford vs. Fred – it was about the future of our municipal water systems and public water in our province.”

Ford was speaking also directly to Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles.

Stiles says the premier is “getting emotional” with his audit threat.

“He’s talking about going after charities and auditing charities?” Stiles said. “I don’t know who he’s talking about – Is he going to go after the food banks?”

“To me, what I saw today was the premier getting a little unhinged. Okay, he’s a little unhinged,” Stiles said.

The people attacked by Ford Tuesday say he is starting to look like U.S. President Donald Trump by trying to silence his critics.

Stiles says people shouldn’t have to face this kind of attack just for criticizing government policies.

READ MORE: Ontario NDP asks integrity commissioner to investigate labour minister