Celebrating Black History Month

On behalf of the Ontario NDP Caucus, it is my pleasure to mark Black History Month. 

Black History Month is a crucial opportunity to honour the people, and the movements, that shaped positive and transformative change in our province, country and world.

And also to celebrate the vital contributions of the Black community in Ontario today.

As we recognize Black History Month it is important to also recognize that anti-Black racism is still a reality in Ontario today.

This is unacceptable, and it needs to be stopped.

That is why the Ontario NDP has joined  the African Canadian Legal Clinic and numerous community groups to call on the government to re-establish an Ontario Anti-Racism Secretariat.

This secretariat would proactively work to eliminate systemic discrimination and develop the education programs that are necessary to fight racism across government and throughout Ontario.

It sends a strong message that Ontarians condemn racism and are committed to addressing systemic injustice in our province.

We look forward to continuing to work together with the Black community to ensure that, in our province, everyone has a chance to succeed. 

I hope by celebrating our shared history, as we do during Black History Month, that we can inspire both today’s leaders, and the next generation of change-makers, to know the great shoulders that they stand on. 

All the very best for an inspiring celebration of Black History Month.

Thank you.