The provincial and municipal elections are upon us. In keeping with the goals of EN we want to ensure we’re doing all we can to fulfill the aims of equity, inclusion and diversity. The voting mechanism is one essential tool in our democratic system. If you believe in something and you want to see change, you need to speak up. One significant way in which to do that, is to vote and to vote beyond your own interests. In part one of this two part blog we’ll be discussing major and notable minor parties in Ontario. In the follow up blog, we’ll present questions that we’ve been asking candidates, and that we suggest you ask as well.
On a global scale we have seen the rise of the far-right; on a more local scale hate crimes have increased. In comparing 2020 to 2019, the number of hate crimes in Canada that were reported to police rose 37 percent, according to Statistics Canada. Hate crimes targeting ethnicity or race made up the bulk of the increase across the country, with a rise of 80 percent. Though there has been a tremendous wave of effort and awareness by many towards creating a more just society. It is imperative that the policies put forward by our government consider equitable outcomes with every single decision made.
So let’s have a look at the Ontario parties. It’s obvious to anyone paying attention that the two new far right parties are overtly, aggressively seeking to maintain inequities. Cambridge MPP Belinda Karahalios who is also the co-founder of the New Blue Party has already sponsored a petition that aims to forbid teachers from teaching anti-racist curriculum and curriculum about gender diversity and 2SLGBTQI rights. This attack is extremely dangerous for Black, racialized, gender diverse, gender non-comforming, and queer staff, students and families. The impact will be erasure of their identities and the invisibilization of systemic power structures that privilege white, straight, and gender conforming people. We know that where these sorts of attacks are openly being made, other equity deserving groups such as migrants, Muslim and Jewish Ontarians will soon be targeted. The far right populist Ontario Party (little brother to the PPC?) has hired former Trump advisor Roger Stone, who was implicated in The Jan 6 attack on the US Capitol. This is the mainstreaming of racism and bigotry. The OP must have some backers with deep pockets to be able to afford Stone.
Doug Ford’s ‘Progressive’ Conservatives have done tremendous harm to nurses with Bill 124 by suppressing wage increases and infringing on nurse’s bargaining rights. This is an attack on a workforce that is largely made up of Black and racialized women. In typical conservative fashion, they worship a budget surplus while people suffer. Over $4 billion of federal covid relief funds are nowhere to be found while people struggle to survive, don’t have their basic needs met, work sick with Covid and without paid sick days. All this while planning to sell off the Greenbelt and facilitate an unwanted mining project at Grassy Narrows First Nation. The recent revelation about Stephen Lecce’s abhorrent participation in a frat house “slave auction” is deeply problematic. Lecce couldn’t even say the word ‘racist’ in his ‘apology’ which is on brand for an MPP and party who seem to have no interest or understanding of systemic inequities or anti-Black racism.
The Ontario Liberals as usual demonstrate no deep or specific commitment to equity. They occasionally boast of a commitment to human rights and multiculturalism but this isn’t good enough. Worse, they slide to the right when it’s advantageous. The Liberals are a performative political party in their approach to equity. They like the diversity photo opportunities but don’t meaningfully show up to shift the balance of power. While they often promise and sometimes deliver on progressive policies with one hand, they are often doing something equally or more harmful with the other hand. Their platform promises to guarantee homecare for every senior who needs it, so time will tell if this comes to fruition.
The Ontario New Democrats have in their ranks many who work tirelessly for justice and equity who deserve our gratitude and support. Three outstanding MPPs are Laura Mae Lindo, Dr. Jill Andrews and Sol Mamakwa. The party does have a level of demonstrated commitment but problems with the party’s institutional culture and pre-election machinations reveal lack of integrity that tells us their commitment to equity needs to deepen.
The NDP has a serious problem with tokenism. Andrea Horvath was recently quoted saying “This team is strong. They’re ready to do the job. They are as diverse as Ontario is.” The party leans on the intelligence and talents of racialized candidates and MPPs to bolster their brand as a diverse party but do they support those candidates when they challenge racism within the party or when they no longer serve the needs of the institution? We need the NDP to realize it’s not immune to systemic racism, ableism, and cis heteropatriarchy. It is an institution, not a grassroots movement. It’s not free of problematic and harmful power dynamics.
The Green Party is the party of the environment and has some progressive policies in their platform but there’s not a clear and lasting commitment to equity. Jim Schreiner has been on CBC Radio One stating that he plans to court traditionally Conservative voters that are concerned about climate change. This leaves us wondering, what about climate JUSTICE? If climate change measures do not confront issues of justice- ie poverty, environmental racism, and Indigenous justice, which must include Land Back, they perpetuate the status quo and those most impacted by the climate crisis will continue to be the most harmed.
It must be said that all parties are coming up egregiously short when it comes to the rights of disabled people. Disabled folks are having an easier time accessing Medical Assistance in Dying than accessing the basic necessities to live a safe and dignified life- medicine, therapies, aids, housing, food, transportation. Of the major parties, the PC’s have made the most pathetic and insulting commitment to increasing the abysmally low Ontario Disability Support Program by FIVE PER CENT. The Liberals have pledged a 10% increase. The Greens and just recently the NDP have committed to doubling the monthly support.
EN is hopeful that there will be some change brought about by this election and that the focus will shift to justice and equity for marginalized and underserved folks, which makes life better for everyone. One way to keep the spotlight on equity is by asking candidates and leaders hard questions at every opportunity. In part two of this blog, we’ll share examples of questions we ask, and questions we hope you will ask, too. Let us know how you’re making equity a priority in this election!