Tommy Douglas’s famous grandson says it is “offensive” for Premier Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives to compare themselves to the social democratic icon.Kiefer Sutherland, the film and TV star, on Monday fired off a tweet blasting Ford and Social Services Minister Lisa MacLeod for likening themselves to the late NDP premier of Saskatchewan, who was once named “the greatest Canadian” for creating universal health care.“Mr. Ford, your tweet has recently come to my attention and I can only tell you that you are correct, my grandfather Tommy Douglas was fiscally responsible,” wrote Sutherland, who currently plays U.S. President Tom Kirkman in the Toronto-filmed Netflix drama Designated Survivor.“In addition to balancing the budget of Saskatchewan, he also provided the province with paved roads, health care and electricity. He did it all within four years. Contrary to your argument, it was never at the expense of social and human services to those in need,” he said.“I personally find your comparison of your policies to his offensive,” the actor, who also starred as terrorist-hunting agent Jack Bauer in 24, told his 500,000 Twitter followers.“So I can only ask, as the grandson of this man, for you to stop posting his picture and using his name as part of your political agenda. After all, I knew Tommy Douglas and you, sir, are no Tommy Douglas.”Sutherland, the son of actors Shirley Douglas and Donald Sutherland, added in a post-script that Ford is “lucky my mum’s not active on Twitter.”His missive was a response to a June 2 tweet by Ford of an opinion piece MacLeod wrote for the Financial Post.“‘It’s time to make government work for the people again — not the other way around. I think Tommy Douglas would approve.’ — @MacLeodLisa,” said the premier’s tweet to his 132,700 followers.The minister, who is active on social ...
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