Premier Doug Ford says he "condemns all individuals and groups that incite violence and hate including the Proud Boys."
The statement on Thursday comes after Kitchener Centre MPP Laura Mae Lindo called on Ford to "step up and speak out" in denouncing the white supremacist group Proud Boys.
Lindo tweeted she wanted "a clear statement" from Ford a day after supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump
stormed the U.S. Capitol building in an attempt to stop the certification of the 2020 presidential election. That sparked photos of Ford with members of the group to be circulated on social media. The
group Proud Boys was started by a Canadian.
"We are calling on Premier Doug Ford to clearly and unequivocally denounce the Proud Boys," a statement from Lindo and NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said.
Ford's office responded Thursday afternoon with an emailed statement from the premier saying he condemns the group.