Premier Wynne on Black History Month

government exists to make peoples’ lives better, to support people in realizing their dreams –Premier Wynne

By William Doyle-Marshall

Canadians of African heritage like the Honourable Lincoln Alexander, Dr. Herbert Carnegie and Charles Roach and others who passed on recently have played their parts in breaking down barriers and accomplishing things as models for all says Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne. She was addressing a Black History Month gathering Thursday night in the Parliament Building. While those individuals are considered models for the African Canadian community, the premier stressed “they are models as human beings for every single one of us”.

Premier Kathleen Wynne and Members of her Caucus addressing Black History Month 

  Premier Wynne, who was recently elected to head the Ontario Liberal Party, and become the 25^th Premier of the Province, wants all Ontarians to learn from each other. Her new government’s vision is concerned with Ontario being a place where no one has to fight against prejudice or low expectations. Everyone must know that expectations are high. Premier Wynne continued: “we know that people can achieve; that we know our children can achieve in school, no matter their background ; no matter the colour of their skin; no matter the language that they speak that we can lift each other up.”

  Wynne was emphatic that greatness has to be expected of everyone. She believed Ontario can be the model for the world.  “On that front and we support everyone in being great. That’s why for me government exists to make peoples’ lives better, to support people in realizing their dreams and creating the conditions for people to be great,” she continued.

  “When you hear people coming at us about fiscal responsibility, I want to reassure you that we understand that being fiscally responsible is absolutely essential but we also understand that a fair society is absolutely essential and a fairer society,” the premier continued.  She warned “we are not there yet folks. Everyone in this room knows we are not there yet. We pat ourselves on the back but you better be careful not to lose our humility because we have not yet achieved what we have to achieve and each one of you in this room has story to tell about how we haven’t got there yet.” Wynne warned Ontarians against being too self righteous as they have a long way to go. “We know that as your government and we want to work with you to make sure that we can make our society a fairer place to live,” Wynne concluded.

                          Close Encounters: Minister of Citizenship Michael Coteau & Dr. Alvin 
                          Curling, former Ontario Speaker getting details of Black History Month

  Jamaican-born Dr. Alvin Curling, former Speaker of the Ontario Parliament was pleased that the Premier stepped away from tradition with her speech to deliver what he termed “an almost heart-to-heart” talk. He reminded the gathering that the Premier expected the community’s help in carrying out her duties. “This is our country and when we go about in our ways and feel that we are strangers here and behave like strangers, we will be responded to as strangers.  You are citizens of this country and we want to make this place a better place,” Dr. Curling concluded.

   Michael Coteau, Ontario’s Minister of Citizenship and Immigration recalled since 1860 Canada has been important to enslaved Africans fleeing the United States. For them Coteau noted Ontario  represented freedom, safety and hope for a better future.  “The contributions of the first courageous arrivals and succeeding generations of Black people have transformed that hope into reality,” he added.

   The minister concluded that the Black community has contributed tremendously to the Canadian society. Mary Ann Shad who was the first to bring forward an integrated school and the first Black woman to publish a newspaper; Elijah McCoy, mechanical engineer who is responsible for 57 patents; Anderson Abbott, the first Black Canadian licensed physician. His career included participation in the American Civil War and attending the death of Abraham Lincoln; William Hubbard who was the first Black Torontonian to become a City Councilor are all early contributors to be celebrated in the observance of Black History in Canada. The province’s Black community (artists, journalists, playwrights, musicians, business people, scientists, elected officials) continues to make history today. Many are considered trail blazers.

February 22, 2013