Doug Ford’s upcoming appearance at a Christmas celebration hosted by a social conservative was considered a gift by the opposition, who blasted the premier for agreeing to speak at the event hosted by Charles McVety.

“This would be the same Charles McVety who was condemned by the broadcasting standards council for distorted facts and abusive comments about gays and lesbians …Why is the premier endorsing this man and his views,” New Democrat MPP Taras Natyshak asked in the legislature, noting Ford is featured prominently on promotional materials for the event.

Asked a second time by Natyshak about McVety, Ford said those attending on Sunday, Dec. 9 “are going to be there from all sorts of churches across Ontario. They want to hear — from not only myself, but other leaders in the community — how we’re going to help them create jobs.

“These are good Christian people — maybe he’s anti-Christian. I’m not anti-anything … We’ve got anti-police, anti-Christian, anti-military over there,” he said of the NDP.

McVety, a prominent voice in the social conservative movement who was also behind the push to scrap the sex-ed curriculum, said in an interview that Canada Christian College has held a holiday event for more than three decades, and this year brings together 30 churches.

He expects thousands to attend, including more than 100 pastors.

“This is not a political event,” McVety said, describing it as a “full Christmas celebration, with a full Christmas musical with six different choirs and bands, and it’s going to tell the Christmas story.”

“The premier goes to Muslim Eid events, he goes to Hindu Diwali events, why not Christian Christmas events?”

But Interim Liberal leader John Fraser said he “wouldn’t go to Charles’ party simply because of the things that he’s said that I believe are intemperate and wrong and injure other people.”

“If that’s who the premier wants to associate himself with, it says a lot about the premier,” said Fraser.

Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner doesn’t think criticizing Ford on this issue should be characterized as anti-Christian.

“I think somebody who’s espoused hateful views, particularly towards the LGBTQ community — I don’t think that’s a place for the premier, really.

“I understand the premier wants to pander to social conservatives and seek out their support, but as premier I don’t think it’s appropriate to be speaking at an event hosted by someone who espouses those views.”

Schreiner also noted he himself is Christian, “and Jesus Christ taught me to stand with and support the people who are … persecuted and targeted with hate because I think that’s the Christian thing to do.”

McVety said he doesn’t believe he has any “inappropriate views” and that he doesn’t support the sex-ed curriculum or same-sex marriage.

“I share the views of millions of Ontarians and why discriminate against us?” he added.

He’s not sure what Ford will speak about, and “we have not put any suggestions other than a Christmas message which is love and peace, and security and family.”

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McVety expects the premier to speak for five to 10 minutes, toward the end of the event.

He said while dignitaries are always invited, “we felt that this premier may accept our invitation so we gave it to him and he agreed to speak.”

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