Ontario’s legal system has historically been used as a tool of oppression against Black, Indigenous, and people of colour, and racism continues to pose a significant barrier to accessing justice in Ontario. The Ontario NDP is committed to ensuring that everyone in Ontario has equal access to justice, and we recognize that this will require a dedicated effort to address the issue of racism and its broader socio-economic impacts in the legal system.
Under the Ford government, there have been devastating cuts to social services, public health, education, Legal Aid and affordable housing. Ford has cancelled or cut funding for important programs that helped tackle systemic racism including the Anti-Racism Directorate, tutors and extra supports for BIPOC students, mental health resources, and police oversight measures. The Ford government has been reluctant to even admit that systemic racism exists in Ontario, never mind recognize the disproportionate impact that their cuts have on racialized communities.
Legal advocates see first-hand the impact that racism has on the legal system’s ability to ensure just and fair outcomes for racialized individuals, and they are raising the alarm about how Ford’s cuts exacerbate these injustices. The Ontario NDP is working to support the efforts of legal advocates to address racial inequities by funding the institutions and programs that would eliminate access to justice barriers.
The Ontario NDP has organized a series of town halls where advocates on the frontlines can discuss issues important to the access to justice movement. These town halls are your opportunity to learn more about the activism of progressive lawyers and about the Ontario NDP’s work on these issues. It’s also your opportunity to provide input on what you think the Ontario NDP should be doing in the coming months.
Join caucus members Gurratan Singh (Brampton East - Attorney General critic), Laura Mae Lindo (Kitchener Centre - Anti-Racism critic), and Sol Mamakwa (Kiiwetinoong - Indigenous and Treaty Relations critic) as they discuss this important issue and discuss ways that an Ontario NDP government can address it.
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