Horwath:  Now is the time anti-racism Secretariat

Horwath:  Now is the time anti-racism Secretariat

HORWATH

QUEEN’S PARK–With support across the province growing and as the Ontario Legislature returns for the spring session, Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is calling on the premier to finally take action on a decade-long Liberal broken promise, and establish an Ontario Anti-Racism Secretariat (OARS).

“Since we launched our campaign in December of last year, thousands of Ontarians have joined with us in our call to establish an OARS — as they too believe that Ontario is at its best when no one is left behind.
With such broad support, now’s not the time for ‘stretch goals’ or more broken promises. It’s time for the premier to cut the rhetoric and get down to action on this important initiative.

We have the tools before us to make a difference in the lives of so many Ontarians, but it’s time we have the collective will to use them. That means making choices, and showing leadership for all Ontarians.”

Since Horwath and the Ontario NDP launched their campaign in mid-December 2015, over 7,000 Ontarians have signed petitions, both online and off, calling for the establishment of an OARS.

The call for the establishment of an anti-racism office in Ontario has been advocated by the Council of Agencies Serving South Asians (CASSA), and the Colour of Poverty campaign, which combined represent over 100 community organizations.

New Democrats will be tabling a motion calling for the establishment of the OARS in the coming days.

(PRESS RELEASE)