Ford Government silences statement regarding International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

QUEEN’S PARK – On the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Doug Ford government failed to include that as a topic on the legislature’s agenda, then voted down a request from the NDP to introduce the words of racialized people to the record.

NDP MPP Jill Andrew (Toronto-St. Paul’s) said the Ford government has to step up and acknowledge that the government has a critical role in tackling racial discrimination and systemic bias.

“The NDP was looking for room on the agenda to read a few words from the work of Dr. Uzma Shakir, a community-based researcher, advocate and activist who tells us that without acknowledging power imbalances, privilege and social justice, there can be no celebration of multiculturalism at all,” said Andrew. “For the Conservatives to keep the significance of this day off the agenda, and keep the voices of those impacted by systemic racism and bias out of the legislature, is a troubling symbol that divides Ontario instead of uniting us.”