Photo by Darren Goldstein/DSG Photo.
Good morning all
Ontario Provincial election 2 June 2022 – Asking the right questions
Once again the people of Ontario are being asked to choose a new government, with the provincial elections scheduled for 2 June 2022. As usual candidates of all political stripes will be knocking on your doors, sending you emails, calling you on the phone, and using sundry social media to ask for your vote. Our task today is to remind all people of colour that they have the power to decide who forms the next government, in power over the coming fours years. Two issues have dominated the social and political arena in the national capital these past two years: the covid 19 pandemic which started in March 202, and the truckers’ occupation of the city of Ottawa in February 2022. These two situations should form the crux of questions one should be asking the candidates seeking your vote. How did you and your party respond to the pandemic? And how did you and your party respond to the illegal occupation of the city of Ottawa? For the first question, would you give the Ford conservative government a passing grade for the often confusing, convoluted, and politically motivated decisions on managing this crisis? Did the opposition parties fare any better, in their own responses and counter-proposals on the handling of the pandemic? Then there was the criminal occupation of the city of Ottawa by disgruntled truckers in partnership with racist right-wing demagogues with an agenda to destroy the very fabric of Canada’s famed democratic society. Mindful of the shameful inaction of the municipal, provincial, and federal governments, leading to the exit of Ottawa’s first and only ever Black police chief, would you want to return those same inept politicians to continue where they left off, after Canada’s month of shame?
Also, remind them of the recent Statistics Canada census report that indicates the fastly growing numbers of seniors in the country. Find out what plans each party has to assist and support this vulnerable population, in regard to their health and well-being. Ask these questions and more and by no means should you give these politicians a free pass to another four years of ineptitude.
Fair treatment for Black refugees from the Ukraine war
As we watch with consternation and a sheer sense of helplessness, the senseless destruction of Ukrainian lives and property by the invading Russian army, we wish to add our voices to the call for peace and applaud the government of Canada for the substantial material and moral support it is providing to the victims of this senseless war. The refugees numbering in their millions have been given refugee in Poland and surrounding countries and many have been offered refugee in Canada. But apparently forgotten in this global crisis are the thousands of African, Caribbean, Black, and other international students seeking refuge from this man-made calamity. Video evidence shows these hapless victims being turned away at the border by Ukrainian border guards and the lucky ones who have managed to flee, telling stories of discrimination simply due to their skin colour. In Canada, this discrimination is very evident. While Ukrainian-born refugees are being fast-tracked to temporary temporary residence and open work permits, Black refugees are admitted only with study permits, meaning they have to pay international student fees, often 3 to 5 times those of permanent residents or Canadian citizens. Ukrainian refugees are being offered work permits and free health care, why not the same consideration for the non-Ukrainian refugees?
This situation may well be an oversight by the Canadian government but it is not too late to remedy this apparent unequal treatment of people caught up in this unprecedented refugee crisis.
We, therefore, call on the Government of Canada and the Minister of Immigration to accord the same rights to Black refugees from the Ukraine war as to Ukrainian-born refugees. Specifically, we ask that the government allows these hapless victims of war to pay the same fees as Canadian permanent residents, and offer them work permits and free health care. This fits with the United Nations Convention on Refugees and the Canadian Charter of Rights, which stipulates that all people be treated with the same level of fairness and equity, regardless of their skin colour.
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In other news
Our Top Story for this edition is the exemplary initiative by the St. Vincent and Grenadines Association of Ottawa in providing both financial and material support for victims of the recent volcanoes in their home country. We continue our annual salute to Black mothers on Mothers’ Day on Sunday 8 May, with the profiles of four mothers of our community members. With the Ontario provincial election scheduled for 2 June, we continue our tradition of publishing the profiles of all the Black candidates from the three major parties. Community advocate Dina Epale has established a university scholarship in honor of his parents and is the subject of our Interview for the month of May with details of the award.
All these and more in the May 2022 edition of your favourite news magazine.
Here is the result of the April 2022 poll: Do you believe that the current measures by Canada and her NATO allies are enough to stop Russia from completely seizing control of Ukraine? Yes 0% No 100% Thank you to all who voted. Remember to vote in the May 2022 poll: Do you support the campaign to provide the same benefits to Black and other international students fleeing the war in Ukraine as Ukrainian-born refugees?
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Wishing you and your loved ones the very best of the spring season.
Godwin Ifedi Editor