Doug Ford joined York Regional Police in "celebrating inclusion and equality" in the York Pride parade downtown Saturday afternoon

Premier Doug Ford with Ministers Christine Elliott and Carolyn Mulroney at 2019 York Pride Parade in Newmarket. Greg King for NewmarketToday

Premier Doug Ford with Ministers Christine Elliott and Carolyn Mulroney at 2019 York Pride Parade in Newmarket. Greg King for NewmarketToday

Ontario Premier Doug Ford made a surprise visit to Newmarket to march along Main Street in Saturday afternoon's York Pride parade.

Wearing a blue Pride T-shirt and lei around his neck, Ford was accompanied by Attorney General and York-Simcoe MPP Caroline Mulroney, Health Minister and Newmarket-Aurora MPP Christine Elliott, his parliamentary assistant, King-Vaughan MPP Stephen Lecce, and members of York Regional Police.

Members of the local NDP marched immediately in front, chanting, "Ho, ho, Doug Ford's gotta go."

While the premier has said he will not attend the Toronto Pride parade on Sunday, June 23 because uniformed police officers are banned from marching in it, he tweeted today that he was "thrilled" to take part in the parade and honoured to march alongside York Regional Police.