Ontario premier and PC leader Doug Ford believes Stephen Lecce is sorry about participating in a fraternity “slave auction” while a student at Western University in 2006.
According to a report published Tuesday by PressProgress, Lecce was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity at Western University and participated in a “slave auction” fundraiser.
Frat members were offered up for auction, with the highest bidder winning a “slave” for the day. Wonderful.
A statement released by Lecce read: “The event from 2006 was inappropriate and in no way reflects who I am as a person, which is why I unreservedly apologize… I will continue to passionately advance the interests of all Ontarians- irrespective of faith, heritage, orientation or race.”
Ontario’s NDP called for Lecce to be removed as a candidate, but Ford disagreed.
“He’s sorry,” Ford told reporters at an early-morning event in Kitchener on Thursday. “This is something he did when he was 19 years old in university.”
Lecce has served as Education Minister during Ford’s first term as premier, following goat-farmer Lisa Thompson’s reassignment to Minister of Consumer and Government Services on June 20, 2019.
