Teachers Unions expresses concerns about removal of equity focused ministries from Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Cabinet

BY PAUL JUNOR

There has been much fanfare and excitement since Mark Carney was elected as the leader of the federal liberal party. He won a unanimous victory with approximately 89% of the votes that were cast. The announcement of members of his cabinet was a surprise to many when two of the important ministries were removed from the cabinet. The two ministries were: Minister for Women and Gender Equality, and the Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities. This has caused several teachers to issue statements regarding this decision.

The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO) issued a press release on Friday, March 14^th. In its statement, it calls on the Federal Government to maintain and expand its important work on equity. ETFO is particularly concerned about the message that is being conveyed regarding the removal of these two important ministers from the new cabinet.

“The removal of this cabinet position is not just a symbolic loss; it has real-world implications.”

The press release states, “While we have seen progress toward equality over the years, that progress is not linear and there are still many positions where men are overrepresented. Institutional change requires continued investment and commitment, and the removal of such important portfolios is concerning and indicates an unwise change of direction for Canada.”

ETFO believes that the timing is wrong as the elimination of these ministers coincide with a time when many marginalized and equity-seeking and deserving groups are feeling vulnerable given the changing political realities in America, and its possible implications in Canada. The press release notes, “With the levels of discrimination and equality rights in the United States and globally, Canada must support and promote the rights of women and all equity seeking groups.”

The press release singles out Canada as a leader in social justice and human rights and mentions that this may not portend well in the future. It elaborates, “The removal of cabinet positions responsible for addressing issues of inequality, represents an erasure in particular, those whose intersectional identities encounter oppression in multiple ways.”

The press release concludes, “For Prime Minister Carney to set these posts aside and build a cabinet that removes the equity work that needs to be done with a national concerted effort is shameful and must be remedied at the earliest opportunity. When the most vulnerable among our society thrive, Canada thrives.”

The Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation released a statement along with women’s rights advocates and community allies in response to the removal of the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth. The statement reads, “The removal of this cabinet position is not just a symbolic loss; it has real-world implications for millions of women and gender-diverse people and workers in Canada who rely on the government to protect their rights and advance their interests. Furthermore, Canada’s commitment to women’s rights, equality, and full participation in society depends on this department’s sustained funding, policy making and accountability measures.”

OSSTF mentions that potentially by sidestepping these critical issues it could lead to lack of attention to them. The statement concludes, “It is unacceptable that the new Prime Minister has eliminated the position of Minister for Women and Gender Equality. This regressive step undermines decades of progress toward gender equality and political representation in Canada.”