VIDEO: Um, what exactly IS an “old stock Canadian,” Stephen Harper?

VIDEO: Um, what exactly IS an “old stock Canadian,” Stephen Harper?

During Thursday night’s Globe and Mail debate, when asked about refugee policy, Stephen Harper said that taking away health care for claimants was something “old-stock Canadians” could agree with.

Confused debate watchers chimed in. What exactly is an “old-stock” Canadian?

I drank some Old Stock Canadian last night. Bitter, flat and entitled #elxn42#cdnpoli — Paul Barrett (@paul_barrett) September 18, 2015

Because “old-stock” may have some differing interpretations…

Old stock Canadians??? How old do you need to be? Cuz if we go far enough back I’m thinking that’s not who the CPC thinks it is. — Kevin Brushett (@KTBrushett) September 18, 2015

BREAKING! Stephen Harper makes reference to “old stock Canadians”; Canada’s indigenous people sputter, “Say what?” — CC (@canadiancynic) September 18, 2015

But many people were simply put off by the clear racial undertones of the term.

All jokes aside, “old stock” is a term for one’s racial makeup. It’s a term I have not heard a politician use publicly in a long time. — Adam Stirling (@Adam_Stirling) September 18, 2015

Dear @pmharper, Roughly how many generations makes you “old stock Canadian”? Does it depend on race? #elxn42 Sincerely, New Stock — Kari Dalnoki-Veress (@KDalnokiVeress) September 18, 2015

For the record, the government’s own polling data showed that 62% of Canadians believed that refugee claimants should have the same health care as Canadian residents and citizens.

However, the poll didn’t differentiate which respondents were “old-stock”.