The remark clearly infuriated Employment Minister Jason Kenney, a former Reform MP and ex-minister of immigration currently on the hot seat over the TFW program, who unleashed EIGHTEEN tweets in response.
Kenney called Rae's words "obscene" — an opinion apparently shared by others who joined the fray online.
Kenney defended the government's immigration record and said only those suffering from "Harper Derangement Syndrome" could accuse the Conservative Party of Canada of being anti-immigration.
And the key member of Harper’s inner circle even dug into the immigration record of former Liberal prime minister Jean Chrétien.
Here is the full exchange (if you can even call it that) that quickly caught the attention of Canadian journalists and political junkies.
TFW issue has roots in Reform's anti-immigration bias - explosion in "temporary" category is all about segregating and excluding. #cdnpoili
— Bob Rae (@BobRae48) April 30, 2014That's obscene & beneath you, @BobRae48. We've increased immigration to record levels, the highest per capita level in the developed world.
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014in its first 5 yrs in office, Chretien govt *cut* immigration levels by 32%. Our govt has increased average annual levels by 14% @BobRae48.
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014Average annual admission of permanent residents 1994-2005 = 222K. Average levels 2006-2013 = 255K, @BobRae48. "Anti immigration bias"????
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014Since coming to office, we have tripled the number of "temporary foreign workers" who obtain permanent residency, from 13K to 38K @BobRae48
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014We created an entire new immigration category, the Canadian Experience Class, specifically to allow TFWs to transition to PR, @BobRae48.
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014We tripled settlement funding for newcomers from $200M in 2005 to $600M now, @BobRae48. That reflects an "anti-immigration bias?"
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014In 1995 Liberal govt imposed a $1000 Right of Landing Fee on new permanent residents, @BobRae48. In 2006 we cut it in half.Anti-immigration?
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014We increased 8-fold the Provincial Nominee Programs, which are often used to transition lower skilled TFWs to PR, @BobRae48. Anti-immigrant?
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014Our 8x increase in prov nominees has brought huge diversity to many rural western communities, tripling immigration to prairies, @BobRae48
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014We're also admitting record numbers of foreign students & visitors, @BobRae48. Is that all about "segregating and excluding?"
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014Largest growth in TFWP has been in reciprocal youth mobility programs, @BobRae48. Aussies working @ Whistler during gap yr are "segregated?"
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014The # of "temporary foreign workers" coming to do academic research & studies has tripled to 11K since 2005, @BobRae48. They're "excluded?"
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 20144 of the top 5 source countries for the TFWP are the US, France, UK & Australia, @BobRae48. Germany & Ireland also in top 10. "Segregated?"
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014The # of TFWs entering Canada has gone from .7% of workforce in 2006 to 1.1% of workforce in 2012, @BobRae48. This is "anti-immigration?"
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014If Reform Party had an "anti-immigration bias" why did it elect the 1st Muslim, 1st Hindu, & 1st South Asian woman to Parliament, @BobRae48?
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014The Reform Party consistently won a plurality of the votes of immigrants in Western Canada, @BobRae48. Were they "anti-immigration" voters?
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014Your tweet is typical of Harper Derangement Syndrome:tendency on left to ascribe worst possible motives, even contrary to evidence @BobRae48
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014In parallel world of Harper Derangement Syndrome, the most pro-immigration govt in modern CDN history has "anti-immigration bias." @BobRae48
— Jason Kenney (@kenneyjason) April 30, 2014Wow.
As mentioned, Kenney wasn't the only person to weigh in on Rae's barb.
Ian Brodie, the former chief of staff to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, didn't mince words.
@BobRae48 This tweet, really, might rank as the least useful contribution to Cdn public policy in years. A serious issue done a disservice.
— Ian Brodie (@irbrodie) April 30, 2014And former Harper spokesperson Andrew MacDougall was clearly pleased with Kenney's spirited response.
Wow. @kenneyjason just went blue whale on @BobRae48 and blew him up real good.
— Andrew MacDougall (@AGMacDougall) April 30, 2014Unsurprisingly, Tory junior minister Michelle Rempel, a frequent tweeter, had a few things to say.
.@kenneyjason @bobrae48 agreed - reducing policy debate on this topic 2 the creation of false boogeymen is ridiculous. Give ur head a shake.
— Michelle Rempel (@MichelleRempel) April 30, 2014.@kenneyjason @BobRae48 #LPC: "Because nothing says 'we're super smart' like quasi-accusing Jason Kenney (!) of xenophobic policy bias".
— Michelle Rempel (@MichelleRempel) April 30, 2014But Gerald Butts, principal adviser to Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, had a different take.
You've got to check out @kenneyjason's twitter stream right now. The Minister for *Everything is Awesome* is feeling the pressure #cdnpoli.
— Gerald Butts (@gmbutts) April 30, 2014Regardless of where you stand on this simmering issue, one thing is now clear: if you want to get in a Twitter spat with Kenney, you best prepare — and probably clear your schedule.
What did you think of Rae's tweet? Was it offside? Tell us in the comments.