'Gutting and carving....labour rights': Premier Doug Ford faces backlash for Halloween pumpkin carving as Ontario struggles
One of my favourite traditions growing up was carving pumpkins.
From my family to yours, wishing everyone in Ontario a happy and safe #Halloween. pic.twitter.com/S2gOzTLAZz— Doug Ford (@fordnation) October 31, 2022
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is celebrating Halloween by teaching us all about pumpkin carving, one of his "favourite family traditions."
"When I was growing up and we'd get together and we'd have a pumpkin carving contest, and everyone would carve their pumpkin," Ford says in the video posted on social media. "I carried that tradition on with my four girls."
The premier then goes on to show, step by step, his pumpkin carving process, including a recipe for roasted pumpkin seeds.
"Full disclosure, I'm not a pumpkin carver," Ford says.
Remembering back to his younger days, the premier says he would often make a costume with things from around the house, including dressing up as Batman for one Halloween.
Have you every wondered what Ford's favourite Halloween movie is? Now we know, he's partial to Halloween and Friday the 13th.
The video ends with the premier telling kids to get their parents to check their candy after trick-or-treating.
"The best quality control people you could ever get is get your dad, or your mom, grandfather, grandmother, to do the quality control check," Ford says. "That was my job with the kids and I'd always make sure the first one was really good."
As is expected, many people on social media have responded to the premier's video, including Canadian filmmaker and actor Sarah Polley.
He seems happiest when making cheesecake and dealing with pumpkins and I fully support him following his passion FULLY and giving up his current job to do so. https://t.co/LeVCQCVbyz
— @realSarahPolley (she/her) (@realsarahpolley) October 31, 2022
Local politicians, health workers and other Ontarians also commented on the video, particularly that it was posted on the day that the Ontario government will table legislation to prevent a strike by Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) education workers, as emergency departments in Ontario hospitals struggle to operate due to reaching capacity limits, and after fighting against a summons to testify at Ottawa's Emergencies Act inquiry.
The pumpkin he’s gutting and carving is labour rights.
Ignore his goofy smile and folksy bullshit.
His government is crushing labour rights and that’s bad for education and workers across Ontario—and bad for you. https://t.co/LSzVqrb1iE— David Moscrop (spooky newscycle edition 🎃🗞) (@David_Moscrop) October 31, 2022
While Doug Ford hoards billions, he tells the lowest paid education workers the cupboard is bare.
Now he’s willing to trample their rights with legislation rather than raise the wages of the people who support students and schools every day.
Ontario deserves better. #onpoli— SpooookyStiles👻 (@maritstiles) October 31, 2022
My local ER is literally on the news - a critical nursing shortage, high patient volumes, ambulances unable to offload patients due to the excruciating long wait times. Patients moaning in pain, IN THE HALLWAY.
Meanwhile, no word from Doug Ford. He is busy carving a pumpkin.— Birgit Uwaila Umaigba 🇳🇬 (@birgitomo) October 31, 2022
The Ottawa Coalition of Residents and Businesses were granted standing today in Premier Ford’s motion to quash his summons to appear before the POEC. If he has time for pumpkin carving, he has time to answer questions for the people of Ottawa who experienced 3 weeks of hell. https://t.co/5ZO17FXcGa
— Paul Champ (@PaulChampLaw) October 31, 2022
Reminiscing of Halloweens past? Pumpkin seed recipe? Quality control check?
Cute music. Jokes.
Ford is all about the kids the week he guts the collective bargaining rights of those who care for them.
His handlers are trying to humanize him. Make him soft & fuzzy. Uncle Doug. https://t.co/RVWnEGQCPN— Chris is 😷 💉 (@ChristyCeeCK) October 31, 2022
Ford’s PR team straight up trolling workers with a pumpkin carving video while legislating forced labour😠
Folksy, “everyman” is gutting services we all rely upon.
Get mad & push back now @OntarioNDP #onpoli— Nipissing NDP (@NipissingNDP) October 31, 2022