“Racial Equity in the Education System Act, 2021,” the introduction of Bill 67

BY PAUL JUNOR

Kitchener Centre MPP Laura Mae Lindo has been at the forefront fighting for racial equity for BIPOC students since she was elected in 2018.

MPP Lindo introduced the bill to combat racism during a Zoom press conference. Bill 67 titled “Racial Equity in the Education System Act, 2021” would ensure that amendments are made to current acts that are related to the education system. It would change the Education Act to the Ontario College of Teachers Act to include definitions of racism and anti-racism.

MPP Lindo states explicitly that “These definitions, as menial as they might seem, are actually major steps toward taking seriously the realities of racism within our education system.” She believes that by spelling out these definitions in the legislation it would ensure that there is a common understanding of exactly what racism is and how to combat it. She notes, “When you define it, then it is real.” Details of Bill 67 can be seen at: www.ola.org.

Bill 67 would:

• Require school boards and post-secondary institutions to create racial equity plans and review them regularly
• Require professional development in racial equity for teachers and staff
• Require boards to provide programs, resources and support for students, teachers and staff that have been targeted by or witnessed acts of racism
• Set out penalties for those who disrupt school or class by using racist language or engaging in racist activities

MPP Lindo mentioned that there is a need for systemic changes that focus on racism and inequality given the recent racial incident at Alpine Public School in Kitchener, in which a teacher was criminally charged after allegations that she disciplined two students by using masking tape to tape them.

With respect to this incident, MPP Lindo states, “That is why we introduced mandatory anti-racism training for all education staff, introduced curriculum changes to counter discrimination and promote inclusivity, and it is why we strengthened sanctions against staff for racist actions or behaviour.”

She notes that the occurrence of this incident is indicative of a wider systemic problem. She states, “The reality is that something like that doesn’t happen unless a number of smaller instances of racial violence and lack of care for racialized students were allowed to go either noticed and met with silence, or fully unnoticed because these things are the norm.”

She concludes, “Instead of doing that, why don’t we take a step back, put a clear vision into the universe of what racial equity in education in particular looks like, and then ensure that the language and the tools are available for everybody so that they can all be working together.”