Wynne gets rough ride at debate

Wynne gets rough ride at debate

By Antonella Artuso | Published in the Toronto Sun | Published:  April 11, 2018 | Updated:  April 11, 2018 9:54 PM EDT

Premier Kathleen Wynne received a rough reception from the audience at the first ever Black issues debate as she defended her government’s record on education, jails and carding.

Moderator Royson James said there’s a crisis in education — that for every 100 black students slated to leave high school, just 69 graduate and only 18 go on to college or university.

After Wynne talked about the changes her government has made in education, James said to her, “You do know that whatever you’re doing isn’t working.”

Read More in the Toronto Sun.

Ford’s comments on black community prompt call for apology

Ford’s comments on black community prompt call for apology

By Marieke Walsh | Published In iPolitics | Published on Apr 6, 2018 6:20 pm

A call for an apology and widespread condemnation met Doug Ford’s comments about the black community on Friday.

“That’s disgusting and insulting,” University of Toronto Professor Rinaldo Walcott said in response to Ford’s comments that he has supported the black community by taking children to his cottage.

Ford’s comments were made in response to questions about why he isn’t attending Ontario’s first black community provincial leaders debate.

Read More on iPolitics.

Ford won’t take part in Toronto’s black community debate, campaign confirms

Ford won’t take part in Toronto’s black community debate, campaign confirms

By Colin D’Mello, CTV News Toronto | Published On Wednesday, April 4, 2018 4:42 PM EDT | Last Updated:  Thursday, April 5, 2018 12:12 PM EDT

Organizers of the first community debate ahead of the provincial election this June are expressing their disappointment after learning PC Leader Doug Ford will skip the event.

Ford’s campaign team says scheduling issues will prevent him from attending the debate hosted by the Jamaican Canadian Association on April 11th.

“Doug Ford is scheduled to be in Northern Ontario on April 11th,” campaign spokesperson Melissa Lantsman said in an email to CTV News Toronto. “We scheduled this before we were made aware of the invite.”

Billed as a “black community provincial leadership debate” the event will feature leaders from the three other parties, including Liberal Leader Kathleen Wynne, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath and Green Party leader Mike Schreiner.

Read More on CTV News.

Doug Ford declines to participate in Black Community Provincial Leaders Debate

Doug Ford declines to participate in Black Community Provincial Leaders Debate

Published by CBC News | Published On April 4, 2018

Ontario PC Leader Doug Ford will not be participating in a provincial leaders’ debate organized by the black community scheduled for April 11, CBC Toronto has learned.

In a statement to CBC Toronto, Ford’s campaign says the Ontario Progressive Conservative leader will be in Northern Ontario on the date of the Black Community Provincial Leaders Debate.

“Doug Ford has been meeting with Ontarians of every background and listening to their concerns,” the statement reads. “Doug Ford will be a Premier for all Ontarians and will bring relief to families, including those in the black community.”

Debate organizers have already secured the participation of all the other provincial leaders, including Premier Kathleen Wynne, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath and Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner.

Read More on CBC News.

Black Canadians Mobilize Nationally for the First Time in Decades

Black Canadians Mobilize Nationally for the First Time in Decades

By Sabrina Nanji | Publisher:  The Star |Published: Wed., Jan. 3, 2018

Christening the Federation of Black Canadians with an impromptu electric slide was an “emotional” moment for Justice Donald McLeod.

That’s how the National Black Canadians Summit, held in Toronto in early December, concluded — with as many as 800 attendees cutting a rug like they were at a long-overdue family reunion, said McLeod, who helms the newly minted organization, the likes of which hasn’t existed in Canada for decades.

Read more in the Star.

Operation Black Vote Canada Holds Black Youth Political Summit At Toronto City Hall

Operation Black Vote Canada Holds Black Youth Political Summit At Toronto City Hall

By Neil Armstrong | Published in Pride News

TORONTO, Ontario, November 1, 2017 — Toronto councilor, Michael Thompson, says a lot of cool things are happening in the city and Black Canadians must want to be a part of it.

He is encouraging more to run for political office and noted that being at the table is important because there is so much that a person can do there.

Councillor Thompson, a sponsor alongside the Toronto Education Workers of the Next Generation Black Youth Political Summit, organized by Operation Black Vote Canada, was speaking at the event held inside Toronto City Hall on October 28.

Read More in Pride News.