Ontario Premier Doug Ford made a surprise visit to Newmarket to march along Main Street in this afternoon's York Pride parade.
Wearing a blue Pride T-shirt and lei around his neck, Ford was accompanied by Attorney General and York-Simcoe MPP Caroline Mulroney, Health Minister and Newmarket-Aurora MPP Christine Elliott, his parliamentary assistant, King-Vaughan MPP Stephen Lecce, and members of York Regional Police.
Members of the local NDP marched immediately in front, chanting, " "Hey, Hey, Ho Ho, Ford's gotta go."
While the premier has said he will not attend the Toronto Pride parade on Sunday, June 23 because uniformed police officers are banned from marching in it, he tweeted today that he was "thrilled" to take part in the parade and honoured to march alongside York Regional Police.
I was thrilled to attend #YorkPride today with @celliottability, @C_Mulroney and @Sflecce to celebrate community and #Pride. It was an honour to march alongside our @YRP men and women to celebrate inclusion and equality. pic.twitter.com/eHmLGChNXr
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) June 15, 2019
More York Pride parade photographs to come.
