Political correctness is alive and well in Ontario's beautiful Caledon Hills, this according to Agent 3 who once roamed the hills freely.
Seems Caledon town councillor Gord McClure -- an eighth-generation local farmer known for his plain speaking -- used the term "Jewish lightning" in a debate about a historic home owned by former NHL star defenceman Paul Coffey.
Mr. McClure, a member of Caledon’s heritage committee, told a council meeting last week that he supports a proposed heritage designation for the home but not for the lot on which it sits.
Now comes the "slur". "If I owned the land I wouldn’t want the whole thing sterilized," McClure said. "We do that and it’s going to be hit by Jewish lightning."
Regional councillor Richard Paterak took McClure to be equating "Jewish lightning" with arson. Expressing his shock and sensitivity, Paterak said, "We should not make any comments that impugn any people or ethnic community and as a councillor [McClure] should know that."
Mr. McClure denied making a slur. "Paterak doesn't know what he's talking about," was the gist of McClure's remarks. He issued no public retraction and did not respond to phone and e-mail messages requesting comment.
Mr. Paterak's ethnicity and religion are unknown, at least to Agent 3 who says, "He must be an immigrant from Toronto."
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