Decisions of New Government of Ontario Causing Concern

By Neil Armstrong

Photo contributed   Nadine Spencer, president of the Black Business and Professional Association

Now that the new Progressive Conservative cabinet of twenty-one members has been sworn in, some of Premier Doug Ford’s actions are raising concern among Jamaica-born community leaders.

The swearing in took place at the Ontario Legislative Building at Queen’s Park on June 29.

The ministers are: Doug Ford, Premier and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs; Christine Elliott, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care and Deputy Premier; Peter Bethlenfalvy, President of the Treasury Board; Raymond Cho, Minister of Seniors and Accessibility; Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing;Vic Fedeli, Minister of Finance and Chair of Cabinet; Merrilee Fullerton, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities; Ernie Hardeman, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; and Sylvia Jones, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.

Other ministers are: Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services and Minister Responsible for Women’s Issues; Monte McNaughton, Minister of Infrastructure; Caroline Mulroney, Attorney-General and Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs; Rod Phillips, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks; Greg Rickford, Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines, and Minister of Indigenous Affairs; Laurie Scott, Minister of Labour; and Todd Smith, Minister of Government and Consumer Services, and Government House Leader.

There are also Lisa Thompson, Minister of Education; Michael Tibollo, Minister of Community, Safety and Correctional Services; Jim Wilson, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade; John Yakabuski, Minister of Transportation; and Jeff Yurek, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry.

Photo contributed  Paulette Senior, president & CEO, Canadian Women's Foundation, right.

Paulette Senior, president & CEO, Canadian Women's Foundation says the Foundation is disappointed that the Ministry of Status of Women will be merged into the Ministry of Children, Social Services and Women's Issues, and that the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation will be merged into the Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines and Indigenous Affairs.

“Focused, standalone commitment is crucial to improving social conditions for women and girls, and making progress on our commitment to reconciliation in Ontario. These are critical issues that impact not just women, but Ontario, and its ability to thrive socially and economically. Ontarians will need to hold policy makers to account to ensure that these issues are still being prioritized,” she said.

Some community members have wondered if the Ant-Racism Directorate, established by the Liberal government, will go ahead with its strategy to address anti-Black racism in Ontario.

Simon Jefferies, a spokesperson for the new provincial government says the anti-racism directorate falls under the responsibility of the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, and the Parliamentary Assistant, Prabmeet Sarkaria, will play an important role in over seeing it.

“We will work to combat all kinds of racism and hate across the province,” said Jefferies.

Photo contributed  Marie Clarke Walker, secretary-treasurer of the Canadian Labour Congress

Meanwhile, Marie Clarke Walker, secretary-treasurer of the Canadian Labour Congress, says she is very concerned about the current political situation in Ontario.

“We have just elected a premier who has indicated that his support for Donald Trump is “unwavering”.  We are all aware of the disdain for the marginalized and the rise of racism and discrimination since the election of 45 that is making its way through communities in Ontario evidenced in the last provincial election and the PC leadership races both provincially and federally as well as the rise of blatant advertising for people to attend racist meetings, join hate groups etc.” 

Reacting to the response from the spokesperson, Clarke Walker said she would hope that “all forms of racism (not kinds) are addressed, however, Anti-Black Racism as a particular form that has been proven to be systemic, negatively impacting our communities implicitly and explicitly at every level needs to be specifically addressed.”

She noted that the fact that the new government has put the Anti Racism Directorate under the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services is a huge problem.

“Issues like racial profiling brought many to really understand the extent to which anti-black racism is embedded in our day-to-day lives. The profiling leads to criminalization of an entire community - and that’s what we are trying to stop. I would actually consider it exacerbating the racism already evident within the system.” 

Nadine Spencer, president of the Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA), says she would like to see a prioritization of equity for Black communities in Ontario.

“The new Cabinet is much less diverse than I’d have hoped. It’s disappointing that the party and the Cabinet don’t reflect the demographics of Ontario. I don’t see the Black community represented, and it’s concerning that our voices aren’t at the table,” she said. 

Spencer said the amalgamation of portfolios and the downsizing of core ministries are also likely to affect Black families and communities in disproportionately negative ways.

The BBPA president said while she agrees that it’s important to fight all kinds of racism, “to do this effectively, we need to account for the different forms that racism takes.”

“Black people in Canada have a distinct history, and experience a set of challenges that are unique to being Black. There is no one-size-fits-all solution.”

Like Clarke Walker, Spencer is also concerned about the placing of the ARD under the same umbrella as correctional services.

“To me, this is a dangerous move that implicitly criminalizes communities of colour. Unfortunately, as we've seen, the systems that are supposed to keep the public safe can be the very ones that endanger the lives of Black people. ‘Community Safety' needs to mean safety for all communities. Our government needs to listen to all communities to understand what this actually requires,” she said.

[An edited version of this story has been published in the North American Weekly Gleaner, July 12-18, 2018 issue.]