Minister Coteau: An attempt to make Ontario racism free
“Racism is the refuge for the ignorant.”
The Anti-Racism Directorate aims to make Ontario racism free by hosting community meetings across the province of Ontario to hear the public’s ideas on addressing systemic racism.
On Nov. 25, the Honourable Michael Coteau, Minister of Children and Youth Services and Minister Responsible for Anti-Racism, visited London for the anti-racism meeting which is the seventh meeting of ten that have been planned. Systemic racism is something that continues to create barriers for indigenous and racialized communities in Ontario.
The purpose of this meeting was to inform people about the Anti-Racism Directorate (ARD) mandate that aims to eliminate systemic racism in institutions governed or regulated by the Ontario government, increase awareness and understanding of systemic racism among the public, promote fair practices and policies that lead to racial equity, and collaborate with the community, business organizations, government and the Ontario human rights commission according to a press release.
“We know that racism exists and we know that some people are not getting a fair chance to opportunities when it comes to employment, education and justice,” Coteau said while addressing the gallery. “We are looking forward to removing those barriers that exists within our society, at the end of the day those barriers need to be removed to make sure everyone gets their opportunity to reach their true potential.”
According to the Anti-Racism Directorate website, “In Ontario, a higher number of indigenous and African Americans face the barriers of racism and they are highly discriminated mentally. There are also attacks on the Muslim-Canadians and their place of worship. The Anti-Racism Directorate was created to address and prevent systemic racism in government policy, legislation, programs and services.”
“The Directorate is hiring more people out of the government to fight against the anti-racism and we are framing some new ways and principles to reach out the marginal,” Coteau said.
Raiden Amaya, one of the attendees of the meeting revealed his opinion on what he thought about the directorate.
“I believe that the government and the foreign situations are made up of individuals, it all starts with an individual and you can stop hurting or you can hire more minorities but if it’s not in the heart I don’t think it matters.”
In the meeting, the purpose was clearly explained to the communities and the Anti-Racism Directorate had faced so many questions from the publics about the new data collection policies and the funds allotted for the directorate. Some of them expressed their mental emotions being in a racialized community, some put forth the fact that this situation will remain the same even after years go by, they no longer believe that the change will happen.
“When we think about the change, I know sometimes it’s hard to accept the change that can actually happen because the way government works sometimes is big and we had to collect data but the change can actually happen, let’s see that happen in Ontario. So, have some faith in us, we have got a great team at Queens Park, and I believe that we will make the difference.”
This is a great move and the government will take all the measures to make people live in a racism free society.
The Anti-Racism Directorate aims to make Ontario racism free by hosting community meetings across the province of Ontario to hear the public’s ideas on addressing systemic racism.
On Nov. 25, the Honourable Michael Coteau, Minister of Children and Youth Services and Minister Responsible for Anti-Racism, visited London for the anti-racism meeting which is the seventh meeting of ten that have been planned. Systemic racism is something that continues to create barriers for indigenous and racialized communities in Ontario.
The purpose of this meeting was to inform people about the Anti-Racism Directorate (ARD) mandate that aims to eliminate systemic racism in institutions governed or regulated by the Ontario government, increase awareness and understanding of systemic racism among the public, promote fair practices and policies that lead to racial equity, and collaborate with the community, business organizations, government and the Ontario human rights commission according to a press release.
“We know that racism exists and we know that some people are not getting a fair chance to opportunities when it comes to employment, education and justice,” Coteau said while addressing the gallery. “We are looking forward to removing those barriers that exists within our society, at the end of the day those barriers need to be removed to make sure everyone gets their opportunity to reach their true potential.”
According to the Anti-Racism Directorate website, “In Ontario, a higher number of indigenous and African Americans face the barriers of racism and they are highly discriminated mentally. There are also attacks on the Muslim-Canadians and their place of worship. The Anti-Racism Directorate was created to address and prevent systemic racism in government policy, legislation, programs and services.”
“The Directorate is hiring more people out of the government to fight against the anti-racism and we are framing some new ways and principles to reach out the marginal,” Coteau said.
Raiden Amaya, one of the attendees of the meeting revealed his opinion on what he thought about the directorate.
“I believe that the government and the foreign situations are made up of individuals, it all starts with an individual and you can stop hurting or you can hire more minorities but if it’s not in the heart I don’t think it matters.”
In the meeting, the purpose was clearly explained to the communities and the Anti-Racism Directorate had faced so many questions from the publics about the new data collection policies and the funds allotted for the directorate. Some of them expressed their mental emotions being in a racialized community, some put forth the fact that this situation will remain the same even after years go by, they no longer believe that the change will happen.
“When we think about the change, I know sometimes it’s hard to accept the change that can actually happen because the way government works sometimes is big and we had to collect data but the change can actually happen, let’s see that happen in Ontario. So, have some faith in us, we have got a great team at Queens Park, and I believe that we will make the difference.”
This is a great move and the government will take all the measures to make people live in a racism free society.
