‘Not the first time’: Ontario politician says he received racist abuse during family outing in Muskoka
Posted October 6, 2025 2:03 pm.
Last Updated October 6, 2025 10:10 pm.
An Ontario politician says he was getting ice cream with his family when two strangers allegedly began hurling racist comments his way.
“It is not the first time this has happened,” Hardeep Grewal wrote in a social media post on Sunday evening. “But today I feel compelled to speak out about how exhausting and painful it is.”
The MPP said he was in the Muskoka area when one stranger yelled, “Hey turban head, go home,” before speeding off.
Moments later, Grewal says another stranger allegedly walked by and said, “You should all die.”
“In that moment, I was reminded that the fight against hate is far from over,” Grewal explained. “Ontario is our home. It belongs to all of us.”
Grewal was first elected to the provincial legislature in 2022 and represents the Brampton East riding for the Progressive Conservatives.
According to data from Statistics Canada, police-reported hate crimes targeting the South Asian community skyrocketed by more than 300 percent over a 10-year period from 49 reported cases in 2014 to 229 cases in 2024.
“To my Sikh brothers and sisters, stay vigilant, stay proud, and stay strong,” Grewal added. “Hate never wins. Good will always triumph.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford shared a statement on X in support of Grewal, saying, “Our province is built on the kind of respect, diversity and inclusion that make our communities stronger. Hardeep is a dedicated public servant and a valued member of our party and caucus. I’m extremely disappointed he had to experience this hateful language.”
