Old stock Canadians: What does that mean?

Who exactly is an old stock Canadian?

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper's usedthe phraseat Thursday's federal leaders debatein response to a suggestion government policies havereducedhealth care benefits to refugees.

"We do not offer them [refugees] a better health care plan than the ordinary Canadian receives, Harper said. "I think that's something that new and existing andold stock Canadiansagree with."

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For some, it was a bit of a head scratcher.

In B.C, one of the country's most diverse provinces, the turn of phrase was called offensive while others took to social media to find humour in it.

Sukh Dhaliwal, theLiberal candidate for Surrey-Newton,said Harper's comments revealed a "two-tiered approach" to those born in Canadaand those who have immigrated or received refugee status.

"This is not only out of touch with the demographics of Surrey, but also a show of disrespect towards the city's diversity," he said in a news release.

"Stephen Harper can try to marginalize and isolate Canadians born abroad, but all citizens will stand against such intolerance because it is at the core of what makes us Canadian."

Dhaliwal's comments were echoed by some on social media.

Not racist?

ShinderPurewal, a political science professor atKwantlenUniversity, says thecomment islaughable and that if itweren't for an election, nobody would have noticed it.

"People are reading too much into it," he said."These people who read into it, they think the comment refers to white Canadians, but it doesn't. In fact, they're looking at history with a racist angle. Canada was notalwayswhite ... there are South Asians Chinese, African Canadians, Hispanic, First Nations ... they would allconstituteold stock Canadian."

Finding the humour

Still others had fun with Harper's turn of phrase.

B.C. children's performer Raffi, who takes a keen interest in politics,took the opportunity to lament a time without Harper as prime minister.