LISTEN: Ontario’s Finance Minister Charles Sousa refers to healthcare professionals as “eye candy” during funding announcement today. #onpoli pic.twitter.com/WzQVSThsrP
— NEWSTALK1010 (@NEWSTALK1010) March 22, 2018
Ontario's finance minister is raising eyebrows over a comment he made during a hospital funding announcement this morning.
Charles Sousa was the first to speak and introduced Premier Kathleen Wynne.
Standing in front of a full crowd at North York General Hospital, Sousa took to the podium and began his remarks. "Welcome and good morning everyone. Thank you for being here. Thank you for the eye candy behind me..." referring to the health care professionals staged behind him.
The provincial PC party raised the remarks in the legislature, questioned how they were acceptable and would Minister Sousa be apologizing for the words he used during the announcement?
Sousa doubled down. "I’m not going to apologize to the beautiful people who work so hard for this province and our country. They’re doing hard work. They deserve to be congratulated, and that was what I was doing. I take offence that the member opposite is insinuating something against that which I have held so dear: That’s equality, respect for all ages and for all genders, including my wife and my two girls—and at that event was also me thanking my niece, Nicole Pacheco, who does tremendous work at that hospital. I take full offence."
Outrage and disgust over the "eye candy" comment began to grow online and a few hours later Sousa issued a statement on Twitter. "I want to address a comment I made during my opening remarks at North York General Hospital today. My intent was to acknowledge the tremendous work done by health care professionals, men and women, who provide exemplary care to the people of Ontario. Upon further reflection, my choice of words was inappropriate, and for that, I apologize without reservation."