Ontario Campaign 2000 is outraged by the continued systemic violence and police brutality against Black bodies and the hostile responses to protests opposing anti-Black racism and supporting civil liberties.  We grieve with our Black and Indigenous colleagues and community members who are suffering.

We denounce all forms of anti-Black racism, colonialism and white supremacy, and any effort to erase or deny the legacies and ongoing impacts of these systems of oppression and repression.    

As an organization focused on poverty eradication, we know that Black and Indigenous communities have much worse health outcomes and exponentially higher rates of poverty than white Canadians and that this is a both a result of and a strategy to maintain systemic oppression. Poverty rates for Black (33%), First Nations (ranging from 32%-48%), Inuit (31%), and Metis (21%) children in Ontario are astronomical, particularly in contrast to the national average (17%). This should serve as a sobering reminder that systemic inequities based on discrimination become intergenerational quickly. This cycle must be ended in our lifetimes.

ONC2000 supports the calls from Black leaders and organizations to:

• Declare anti-Black racism a public health crisis. 
• Enhance accountability infrastructure to address police brutality, police violence and harms to Black communities.
• Strengthen the Toronto Anti-Racism Directorate with a clearly articulated, targeted and systemic anti-Black racism strategy. 
• Demand the province of Ontario commit to the allocation of protected funds to provide culturally appropriate health and well-being support within Black communities. A critical component of undoing anti-Black racism is working towards making Black life livable. Culturally appropriate organizations must be given the support they need to continue providing these services. 

ONC2000 also support the calls from the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI) to:

• Fully implement the recommendations of the 2017 Andrew Loku inquest.
• Fully implement the 2019 Ontario Human Rights Commission recommendations on ending racial profiling in law enforcement.
• Strengthen the Ontario Anti-Racism Directorate and the Canada Anti-Racism Secretariat with a clear mandate to end anti-Black racism.

You can read the full C2000 statement, produced with Family Service Toronto, our host organization

In early May, Ontario Campaign 2000 sent an #OntarioElection2018 questionnaire on child and family poverty to all Ontario parties. The Green Party, Liberal Party and NDP all responded. The Ontario PC party did not respond.

We asked the parties to outline their plan to address urgent issues that matter to low income families and to building a fair and prosperous Ontario:  income security, child care, housing, decent work, health care and more.  Read the summary of the parties’ answers here.

You can also read the parties’ full responses to our questionnaire:

Green Party Response

Liberal Party Cover letter and Response

Ontario NDP Response

Please share this post and other election materials widely! We have a useful election resource kit and shareable infographics to help you ask your candidates about poverty.

Toronto – Ontario’s 2016 Budget signals some renewed attention on poverty reduction for children and families with investments and proposed policies in the areas of housing, social assistance and post-secondary education. Long-term, dedicated investments are now needed to help families keep up with the skyrocketing costs of living and to wipe out child and family poverty for good. For our full response, read our media release.

Toronto – Ontario’s 2015 Budget lacks significant investments in the social infrastructure required to reduce child and family poverty in the province. Budget 2015 states an intention to build on the province’s commitments to poverty reduction but falls short of making the investments in income supports, childcare, housing and extended health benefits that will improve the day to day lives of families in low and modest income today.  Read our full media release.

On July 14th, the Ontario government re-introduced Budget 2014. Find Ontario Campaign 2000’s analysis in our media release.

Toronto – The 2013 Ontario budget makes strong steps forward in some areas but does not fully increase the Ontario Child Benefit, the cornerstone of Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy. At the same time, the budget starts the process of social assistance reform. Further action is still required in other areas that will reduce child poverty in the province. Read full media release.