Ontario's newly minted Anti-Racism Directorate on Friday finalized the lineup for community meetings happening this fall across the province, which will inform its mandate.
The goal, as Minister Michael Coteau intimated, will be to zero in on institutional racism and apply a race-based lens to government policy. That includes breaking down barriers to employment and education.
"We really should be using all of our human capital here as much as we can, and I think making sure those barriers are not in place, at the end of the day, will allow for people to take advantage of those opportunities and give people what they want — and that’s just a fair chance at being successful at life," Coteau said from his Wellesley Street office Thursday.
First, the community meetings this fall will help code the directorate's DNA — Coteau said he plans to implement an evidence-based policy (as most governments are wont to do), that will first focus heavily on collecting data, in tandem with other ministries, in order to suss out instances of systemic racism in the province. That will enable the government to remove barriers and allow Ontarians of colour to take full advantage of education and employment opportunities, he said, citing engineering and finance as two sectors currently lacking diversity.
"When I go out to the robotics challenges, the young kids are involved in in the high school and elementary school level — I don’t see many black kids involved in that, and that just gives me great insight as to who the engineers of tomorrow look like . . . If we know there is a demand for a certain sector, if we know that there's needs for the jobs of tomorrow, then let's open that up," he said.
The directorate, established in February, hosted its <a href="http://www.qpbriefing.com/2016/07/15/public-demands-action-at-provinces-first-anti-racism-meeting/" target="_blank">first public meeting</a> in Toronto's Regent Park neighbourhood this summer. Premier Kathleen Wynne, Mayor John Tory and cabinet ministers diligently took notes as a packed roomful of speakers vented their frustration and pain over dealing with racism in Ontario. The crowd roiled when Coteau revealed he had been assigned a $5-million budget (or "peanuts," as one citizen scoffed) — but he has since <a href="http://www.qpbriefing.com/2016/08/22/minister-hints-at-bigger-anti-racism-budget-as-directorate-begins-to-recruit/" target="_blank">hinted</a> that more cash may be in the wings.
Coteau called the meeting "a healthy process," adding that, in a room buzzing with emotion, he was reminded of his own encounters with racism, including being carded by police at the Santa Claus Parade in Toronto when he was a school trustee. Coteau said he initially refused to give his information, but was given an ultimatum, and eventually gave his ID to the cops.
"It happens to people all the time," Coteau shrugged. "Everyone, I think, who’s of colour has gone through some form of racism . . . If the question is like, 'can we eliminate racism,' the answer is probably 'no.' You know, racism is such a complex entity that’s been around for so long.
"But what we can do to make a difference, and this is where I think the directorate plays an interesting role. We can collect data to figure out where the biggest challenges are and start directing resources in those areas which produce the greatest yield for change."
Coteau added he is looking forward to digging into his other new portfolio as Minister of Children and Youth Services, which is more policy-driven than his previous Tourism, Culture and Sport file.
"It's very different from a celebration — this is life," he added.
Here's when and where the community meetings will take place:
<ul>
<li>Monday, Sept. 26 in Hamilton</li>
<li>Tuesday, Sept. 27 in Mississauga</li>
<li>Wednesday, Oct. 5 in Scarborough (rescheduled from Sept. 13)</li>
<li>Friday, Oct. 7 in London</li>
<li>Saturday, Oct. 15 in Sudbury</li>
<li>Monday, Oct. 24 in Kitchener-Waterloo</li>
<li>Saturday, Nov. 26 in Thunder Bay</li>
<li>Monday, Nov. 28 in Windsor</li>
<li>Friday, Dec. 2 in Ottawa</li>
</ul>

Anti-racism minister aims to target job sector, institutions this fall

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