OPINION:  In this election, what’s a black voter to do?

OPINION: In this election, what’s a black voter to do?

One afternoon in June, earlier this year, the mayor of the country’s largest city, the Premier of its most populous province and the Prime Minister of Canada found themselves unexpectedly sharing a stage together in downtown Toronto. They – along with an estimated two million fans from throughout the city – had come together to pay tribute to a group of young (and mostly black) men.

Four days prior, the Toronto Raptors had defeated the Golden State Warriors for the NBA championship, leading to a national outpouring of pride and joy. The Raptors possessed an incandescent quality, and a rare one: They were Canadian and cool, two words that don’t usually come together unless you’re talking about the weather. For the Prime Minister, the election loomed, and for the others, it was a rare moment in political life: a captive audience with a deep well of goodwill. Of course politicians wanted to be associated with the Raptors.

READ MORE In The Globe and Mail

Operation Black Vote comes to Queen’s ahead of federal election

Operation Black Vote comes to Queen’s ahead of federal election

WRITTEN BY Rebecca Lourenco | PUBLISHED BY The Queen’s University Journal | PUBLISHED ON September 20, 2019

African Caribbean Students’ Association first university organization to co-host event

On Sept. 18, Operation Black Vote (OBV) visited campus to discuss the importance of diversity in politics and the impact of voting. The organization’s aim is to educate, promote, and support Black Canadians’ participation in the political process at all levels.

Trevor Gooden, the group’s director of campus outreach, said the goal of OBV is also to help Black students become involved in voting in Canada.

“Increasingly, we are becoming a voting block that can get things done,” he said.

Gooden encouraged students to look at issues that will directly affect them and take those into consideration when voting. “We’re going to graduate soon into a really expensive country and a really expensive economy,” he said.

READ MORE In The Queen’s University Journal

Toronto activist calling on federal parties to nominate more black candidates

Toronto activist calling on federal parties to nominate more black candidates

WRITTEN BY THE CANADIAN PRESS
PUBLISHED IN The Princeton Western News |  PUBLISHED ON Aug. 17, 2019 10:20 a.m.
PUBLISHED IN The National Post | PUBLISHED ON Aug. 16, 2019 1:20 p.m.
 

Fewer than 20 black Canadians have been nominated so far, including some Liberal MPs seeking re-election

A Toronto-based activist is calling on Canada’s political parties to nominate more black candidates in winnable ridings in this fall’s federal election in order to enhance the chances the community is better represented in the next Parliament.

Fewer than 20 black Canadians have been nominated so far, including a handful of Liberal MPs who are seeking re-election, said Velma Morgan, the chair of Operation Black Vote Canada, a not-for-profit, multi-partisan organization that aims to get more black people elected at all levels of government.

READ MORE in The Princeton Western News or The National Post

John Tory comes under attack at mayoral debate over past comments on white privilege, racism

John Tory comes under attack at mayoral debate over past comments on white privilege, racism

By VICTORIA GIBSON | Published in The Globe and Mail | Published on October 1, 2018

Comments once made by John Tory – about white privilege and about his visceral description of shooting suspects – took centre stage during a mayoral debate on Monday night that focused on issues in Toronto’s black community.

Mr. Tory’s denial of the existence of white privilege during the previous mayoral election was recalled by an audience member during the open question period but the mayor said he has changed his mind.

“I can honestly say that you live and you learn, and let me say off the top, white privilege does exist,” Mr. Tory said, noting the statements were made “several years ago” and that he had learned better since that time.

Read More in The Globe and Mail.

Hiring cops and affordable housing hot issues at debate

Hiring cops and affordable housing hot issues at debate

Published by The Sun |  Published on | Last Updated on October 1, 2018 9:40 PM EDT

Mayoral candidates Jennifer Keesmaat and John Tory were in the hot seat at a debate hosted by Operation Black Vote Canada Monday over their support for hiring more police officers and their records on building affordable housing.

There was a spirited exchange between the two over who was responsible for the luxury condos springing up all over the city while more and more people can’t afford rent let alone a mortgage.

“John Tory and Jennifer Keesmaat failed the people of Toronto,” said mayoral candidate Saron Gebresellassi, who called for a state of emergency on the issue. “Ms. Keesmaat was the chief city planner for five years and with John Tory authored a failed housing policy. They promised the people of Toronto 10,000 affordable housing units … Not even half (were built.)”

Read More in the Sun.