Twitter spat involves Weyburn’s most famous former resident

By Steven Wilson

While he never experienced a world with social media, former Saskatchewan Premier Tommy Douglas — once voted the Greatest Canadian in a national poll — is the central figure in a Twitter spat.

Last week, Ontario Premier Doug Ford tweeted a quote from an opinion piece written by his social services minister, Lisa McLeod, which said that Douglas would approve of Ontario’s governing Conservative party in terms of its fiscal responsibility in the past year.

The comment drew the attention of many, including Douglas’ grandson, Kiefer Sutherland. The actor fired back Monday on Twitter.

Sutherland, who was in Weyburn for the unveiling of a Douglas statue in 2011, told Ford he was correct that Douglas was fiscally responsible. But Sutherland said the comparisons ended there, pointing out that Douglas provided Saskatchewan “with paved roads, health care and electricity.”

Sutherland added that Douglas managed to accomplish it within four years, and “never at the expense of social and human services to those in need.”

.@fordnation @MacLeodLisa pic.twitter.com/ESPnxARaEu

— Kiefer Sutherland (@RealKiefer) June 10, 2019

Sutherland’s message then asked Ford to stop using Douglas’ picture, and name, as a part of Ford’s political agenda. It added: “I knew Tommy Douglas and you Sir, are no Tommy Douglas.”

Sutherland concluded his tweet with: “P.S. You’re lucky my mum’s not active on Twitter.” Sutherland’s mother, actress Shirley Douglas, was Tommy Douglas’ daughter.

There wasn’t an immediate response from Ford.

Douglas died in 1986.