In June/July 2019, at a music concert, Minister MacLeod allegedly publicly said to Eugene Melnyk "I am your minister and you’re a fucking piece of shit and you’re a fucking loser." The context was about a National Hockey League franchise business decision that was followed by poor performance and standings by the Ottawa Senators team. There was some backlash in media after a personal complaint by Mr. Melnyk to Ontario Premier Doug Ford, and an apology by Minister MacLeod was not accepted.