NDP demands Ford government end carding and tackle racism

MPP Yarde calls for further debate tonight after minister’s answer stigmatizes Jane and Finch community

QUEEN’S PARK – During question period Wednesday, NDP MPP Kevin Yarde demanded that the Ford government finally end the unconstitutional police practice of carding.

But in response, Ford’s minister responsible for anti-racism and corrections, Michael Tibollo, stigmatized the Jane and Finch community, saying he wore a bullet proof vest in the area and visited sites where “bullet-ridden people” were killed. Later, he appeared to say that he supports the practice of street checks, known as carding.

“New Democrats have long been advocating for the end to carding as an important step in addressing systemic racism,” said Yarde, MPP for Brampton North.

“I personally have been carded,” he told the legislature before asking the Ford government: “Will you be making changes to allow even more carding to take place on Ontario’s streets, or will you work to stamp out carding?”

In response to Yarde’s questions, Ford’s minister said: “Personally, I went out to Jane and Finch, put on a bulletproof vest and spent 7 o’clock to 1 o’clock in the morning visiting sites that had previously had bullet-ridden people killed in the middle of the night.” Later, speaking with media, the minister stressed the need for street checks to make communities safer.

Yarde responded that he was not satisfied with the minister’s answer, and called for further debate, triggering a requirement that Tibollo return to the legislative chamber tonight at 6 p.m. to provide an explanation for his answers.

Yarde called on the Ford government to ensure that Ontarians’ Charter rights are equally respected and said that the government's decision to roll back police transparency laws are a disturbing signal that reform will not take place.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath and Yarde both condemned Tibollo’s comments as racist.