'Racial inequity is felt deeply in Toronto' in areas of good jobs, community services and policing, among others, say groups
Two labour groups are calling on the Toronto city government to address racial inequality in the city, saying that “band-aid solutions” offered by previous governments “did nothing to quell the magnitude of inequity” in the city.
“Racial inequity is felt deeply in Toronto” in different areas, said the Toronto & York Region Labour Council and the Urban Alliance on Race Relations.
“Inequitable access to housing, good jobs, transit, community services and over-policing affect everyone but the impacts are felt more deeply by racialized Torontonians,” they said.
The groups made the call on March 21, in commemoration of the 64th International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
The employment experience has not been fair for many Indigenous Canadians. Overall, nearly six in 10 (58.6%) of these workers have experienced discrimination in their current workplace.
Black, Indigenous and other peoples of colour (BIPOC) in Canada see racial discrimination as a barrier to a successful career, according to another study.
Groups want annual racial inequality audit of Toronto city programs
The Toronto & York Region Labour Council and the Urban Alliance on Race Relations have proposed that the city immediately take the following actions:
- Commit to a yearly racial inequity audit of its programs and agencies.
- Establish a racial justice advisory committee to report on the findings of the audit, propose changes, work with the City’s programs and agencies to implement those changes and hold the City accountable to making them in a timely manner.
- Convene a city-wide conversation on racism that culminates in a summit.
“While the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination recognizes a horrific event at the international level, much of our work to challenge racism is done at the local level,” said Andria Babbington, president of the Toronto & York Region Labour Council. “With a more visibly and culturally-representative council and Mayor, more than ever before, a Toronto that is free of racism and discrimination is achievable through our joint struggle.”
The two groups also recommend that the city:
- Expand its community service offerings and establish programming for students between 3:00 pm-6:00 pm, diversify its recreational offerings, provide supports and more programming for seniors, provide more spaces available for use by community groups, complete a review on what and where arts programming is offered, and establish a plan to address the disparity in access to childcare in certain parts of the city.
- Commit to a good jobs approach for members of racialized communities.
- Commit to addressing housing disparities for Toronto’s racialized communities.
- Immediately and seriously consider alternatives to policing with the aim to provide appropriate community safety services and decrease the police budget in future budgets, and set up and reinforce accountability measures for its police force.
- Expand rapid transit to the suburbs and urgently implement the busway in Scarborough.
- Apply a racial justice lens to its consultation process and its communications to the public.
"Throughout the past 50 years, the Urban Alliance on Race Relations has seen the highs and lows of the fight for racial justice in Toronto. While we have a progressive and diverse city council, we must continue to hold our local leaders accountable to continuing this important fight." Nigel Barriffe, president of the Urban Alliance on Race Relations said.
Employees are eager for their organizations to be active in discussions when it comes to diversity in the workplace, according to a previous report from Catalyst.
2024 International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
According to the UN, the 2024 theme of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is “A Decade of Recognition, Justice, and Development: Implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent”.
“Racial discrimination and the legacies of slavery and colonialism continue to destroy lives and curtail opportunities, preventing billions of people from enjoying their full human rights and freedoms,” it said.