Ontario Autism Program — Premier Ford’s comments that parents of kids on the spectrum “have their hands in the public trough”.

Below is a clip of Premier Doug Ford, talking to Global News Queen’s Park Bureau Chief Travis Dhanraj. At the 4:55 mark of the clip, Dhanraj asks Ford about public perception of Ford’s policies. Transcript below the video.

Dhanraj: You said, though, that you don’t really pay attention to the polls, that you only pay attention to the voters, on election day. But these are voters and they’re certainly are people that are concerned with the cuts. Have you thought about changing direction, when it comes to that? Have you thought about the response that you’ve received?

Ford: I listen to the real people in the back of the factories…

Dhanraj: But those [other people] aren’t real people?

Ford: They’re real people, but they never voted for me in the first place, because they were so proud to tell me that when they text me like the one guy that was shouting and screaming last night…

[Here Ford is referencing texts from Michael Cole, parent of two boys on the autism spectrum. Background: Ontario resident says he felt ‘intimidated’ from voicemail left by Premier Doug Ford]

Ford: They won’t vote for me now, they won’t vote for me in 100 years. But these are the same people that have their hands in the public trough, that have been getting money from the public, hard-working people in the back of the factories and the offices of small business owners.

Parents who are fighting to get healthcare for their kids “have their hands in the public trough?” No words.

Well, maybe some words. Don’t put your hands in a trough. You risk getting your finger bit by a pig. If there’s one thing my family knows, it’s losing fingers in farm accidents. Just ask my grandfather.