Doug Ford's cuts to Anti-Racism Directorate, Poverty Reduction Strategy Office signals backwards priorities

Doug Ford's government has issued a memo indicating drastic changes to ministerial priorities, throwing the status of the Anti-Racism Directorate and the Poverty Reduction Strategy Office into question. NDP MPP for Kitchener-Centre Laura Mae Lindo says it looks like the Ford government is ready to the take the province backwards when it comes to addressing systemic racism and poverty. "After already making cuts to the Anti-Racism Directorate and its subcommittees, it now seems like this government is further downgrading its status and potentially eliminating it altogether," said Lindo. "Likewise, after slashing social assistance increases and cancelling the Basic Income pilot, this government is doing the same to the Poverty Reduction Strategy Office. "Kathleen Wynne's Liberal government delayed creating the Directorate for years, had a photo-op and then left it vulnerable to destruction. Now Doug Ford's government is taking Ontarians from bad to worse, and blowing the whole house down.

"Doug Ford needs to tell Ontarians how further dismantling vitally important offices like the Anti-Racism Directorate and the Poverty Reduction Strategy Office helps make this better for anyone.”