The sharp rise of youth violence in ontario is linked to entrenched racism in the province, according to a long-awaited report that calls on the provincial government to collect race-based statistics and provide anti-racism training to police officers.
”We were taken aback by the extent to which racism is alive and well and wreaking its deeply harmful effects on ontarians and on the veru fabric of this province,” stated the report released this morning by Roy McMurtry and Alvin Curling.
The report on the roots of youth violence was commissioned by Premier Dalton McGuinty following the shooting death of 15-year-old Jordan Manners at C.W. Jeffreys Collegiate Institute.
The sweeping report is critical of the education system, saying students do not see themselves in the curriculum. It calls for guidance counsellors to be trained in understanding issues affecting ”ethno-racial youth.”
Among its recommendations, the report calls for:
• the province to press the federal government to implement a handgun ban
• building community hubs in disadvantaged neighbourhoods.
• $200-million, estimated, to provide universal mental health services.
• establishment of a committee of anti racism and social inclusion.
