Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - March 22, 2024, Winnipeg, Manitoba THINK TANK COMMENT EDITOR: RUSSELL WANGERSKY 204-697-7269 ● RUSSELL.WANGERSKY@WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM A7 FRIDAY MARCH 22, 2024 Ideas, Issues, Insights Meeting and defeating hate where it stands I N the high-octane times in which we live, replete with polarizing politics, deepfakes, the decimation of civil discourse and proliferation of disinformation, there are fewer and fewer things one can lean on with certainty. The right of youth and adults to safety and security of person is something, however, upon which the Manitoba Teachers’ Society (MTS) stands with unwavering certainty. In her Free Press article dated March 15, The ‘rights’ fight: Newest culture war battle zone pits parents versus educators with kids’ identities caught in the middle, journalist Maggie Macin- tosh illustrated the vast influence of organiza- tions such as Action4Canada (A4C). This network skilfully leveraged simmering feelings of isola- tion and intolerance that found their boiling point in the COVID-19 pandemic, spreading fear like a virus of its own ever since. Organizations like MTS have an undeniable responsibility to stand in opposition to individuals or organizations whose beliefs or ideologies put anyone at risk of harassment, bullying and out- right violence. Within our schools, this commit- ment to protection is particularly keen in the case of youth who are marginalized, such as those in the LGBTTQ+ community. The horrific beating and subsequent death of non-binary, 16-year-old Oklahoma student Nex Benedict, attacked in the washroom of their school just weeks ago, under- scores this fact. As Macintosh stated, “LGBTTQ+ youth, who have been on the margins of society throughout history, are frequent targets of bullying. And as a result, they are far more likely to experience serious mental health issues, self-harm and die by suicide than their peers.” While incumbent on government to shape and implement necessary safeguards, there is little comfort to be found on the current political land- scape. Look no further than Saskatchewan and Alberta to observe the unchecked impact of mis- information on public policy. And with a Canadian federal election on the horizon while hate-fuelled U.S. politics threatens a second Trump presidency, nothing can be taken for granted here at home. Indeed, the recent call by Manitoba’s interim leader of the Official Opposition to adopt pro- noun legislation similar to that of Saskatchewan is reason enough for concern. Granted, given the Tories’ all-in provincial election advocacy for parental rights and evasive response to local attempts at book-banning, Wayne Ewasko is in a tough spot. But tough spots are where character — organizationally, politically, and personally — are defined. On this matter, it’s time for everyone to put away their party card. The NDP government has laid out its priori- ties, including the intention to eliminate hate in schools. Holocaust education for all K-12 stu- dents in the face of rising antisemitism and the provision of anti-Islamophobia kits to schools are welcome, positive steps, but are by no means sufficient. Concrete action for LGBTTQ+ youth is necessary as well. And it’s necessary because hate is something we don’t always see coming. It may surface as leaflets left on a car under the benign guise of something that seems reasonable, like “parental rights,” or billed as the prudent removal of an “inappropriate” book from a school library. But make no mistake, it is hate and hate spreads, with those espousing it often appealing, ironically, to societal concerns over safety and security. Parents, for example, already have clearly de- fined rights within the school system. To suggest otherwise, particularly to newcomer families who lack experience with Canadian education sys- tems, is unconscionable. Parents are not vulner- able. Our marginalized young people, however, most certainly are. We must act — all of us — and swiftly. There are no sidelines to sit on, no pillars to hide behind. Organizations like MTS and the governments we work with at all levels must come together now, with one voice and a commitment to support education that builds understanding, compassion and trust backed by public policy that reflects our values. Young people are at risk — maybe your child. Increasing rates of self-harm and suicide among queer kids is directly related to a lack of accep- tance and safety, both in their communities and even in their own homes. For many students, teachers, not their parents, are the safest adults they know. That relationship must be protected. Hate is not a political football to be played strategically to suit those who seek to gain or hold on to power. The misinformation and outright disinformation that drives this agenda erodes de- mocracy and personal safety while we stand and watch. The impact — the consequences — cannot be overstated. Parental rights propaganda and worse, the outright threats and intimidation wielded by or- ganizations such as A4C must be met where they are and defeated where they stand. So, what can we do, all of us, right now, to de- fend LGBTTQ+ youth and adults alike? ● Fly a Pride flag and/or a Transgender flag. ● Provide staff training about what it means and why it’s necessary to offer safe spaces for LGBTTQ+ people. ● Let your communities and stakeholders know where you stand. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram are great places to publicly com- municate your values and expectations. ● Look for and share credible resources from places like the Rainbow Resource Centre, Egale Canada’s Rainbow Action Hub, and The Trevor Project. ● Write to your elected officials. You can find their email addresses online. A few lines of sup- port can make a big difference. Never doubt the power of your voice. ● Vote. As is often said, the measure of a society is found in how it cares for those most vulnerable. Make clear that ignorance and hate have no place in parliament or any other Canadi- an political institution. The greatest weapon of a hatemonger is igno- rance. We must make clear, today and every day, that we are a province and a nation that stands up for the safety — for the very lives — of those who need us most. Not one more student should be forced into the shadows or commit self-harm for lack of a safe place, a safe person, in their lives. Not one more should die. Let us all commit to that much, with unwavering certainty. Nathan Martindale is president of the Manitoba Teachers’ Society. City budget puts brakes on poverty reduction ALL levels of government must contribute to end- ing poverty, and municipalities are no exception. The need is urgent. More than one in 12 Winnipeg residents experience poverty, including more than one in six Indigenous people. Municipalities have limited resources for addressing poverty compared to other levels of government, but Winnipeg has adopted a strategy and action plan outlining what it can do. It needs to commit financial resources to execute it. Winnipeg’s 2024-27 budget passed with vir- tually no new resources for the city’s poverty reduction strategy. This move is inconsistent with council’s Strategic Priorities Action Plan 2023-26, which guides council priorities and investments. Action 3.3 of the plan is to “accelerate implemen- tation of the Poverty Reduction Strategy.” While the budget “elevates” the strategy to the CAO’s office, it allocates no new resources to accelerate implementation. Winnipeg released its first-ever poverty reduc- tion strategy in November 2021 “within existing resources.” With no new money, the majority of actions in the first implementation plan (2021-23) were exploratory and introductory in nature. Major highlights focused only on managing the symptoms of poverty. Advocates urged council to ensure the strat- egy’s second implementation plan (2024-27) included stronger actions and financial resourc- es to actually help prevent and end poverty. Make Poverty History Manitoba (MPHM) campaigned for investments in social housing, affordable transit, community-based safety initiatives, training for city employees in areas related to poverty reduction and reconciliation, and staff to implement the poverty reduction strategy. There are some noteworthy actions in that plan, including ensuring city procurement contributes community benefits like employment opportuni- ties and reduced poverty. It’s a positive example of powers within the city’s jurisdictions that could make a big impact for low-income Winni- peggers. Council approved the second implementation plan in November 2023 but failed to fully address MPHM’s priorities. The plan included resource requests totalling only $1.4 million to implement some very modest actions, pending approval in the 2024 budget. Apart from a reduced budget for mobile outreach services for unsheltered people, none of the resource requests made it into the budget. This includes funding for transitional housing for unsheltered people and additional staff to imple- ment the city’s strategy, an area that was in fact reduced. It’s notable that the budget includes no new operating funds to support the strategy’s sec- ond “Life Pole” focused on Indigenous Children, Youth, and Families. One objective of the city’s strategy is to increase transit affordability for low-income people — an area the city can have a tangible daily impact on those experiencing poverty. MPHM called on council to reduce the cost of a monthly transit pass and to pilot fare free transit. The city’s poverty reduction implementation plan included a pilot to provide vulnerable Indigenous children, youth, and women with transit fares and passes, but the resource request was not included in the budget. Affordable housing is one of two major focus areas or “Life Poles” in the city’s strategy. MPHM called for 750 new units of non-market rent-geared-to-income (RGI) housing annually and housing staff to co-ordinate development. Winnipeg recently secured $122 million in federal housing funding, but has not publicly set any targets to partner with the province to build RGI housing with rents less than 30 per cent of household income. The budget includes no municipal funding to hire permanent housing staff to develop social housing, and the city’s homelessness initiatives are not funded beyond 2024. Another objective of the strategy is to support community-based approaches to safety. MPHM called for funding to community organizations that enhance safety for all and address the root causes of crime. The budget includes support for 24-7 safe spaces, community safety hosts, and public washrooms in Year 1, but nothing is indicated for future years. There are cuts to in- ner-city community centres, recreation facilities, and the Indigenous Youth Strategy, and there is no funding to support growing calls to develop a safe consumption site. Finally, the strategy sets an objective to im- plement training programs focused on equity, diversity, inclusion, reconciliation, and poverty reduction. MPHM called for training in anti-rac- ism and anti-oppression for all city workers, as well as training for first responders around non-violent crisis intervention, de-escalation, mental health first aid, trauma-informed care, and harm reduction. The city’s poverty reduction implementation plan included an initiative to deliver training in many of these areas, but yet again, the resource request was also left out of the budget. It is discouraging to see the 2024-27 budget scale back the city’s already modest investments in poverty reduction. Winnipeg’s mayor and council must do bet- ter going forward to ensure a just allocation of resources that promotes the health, safety, and welfare of all members of our communities, as outlined in its legislated mandate. Michael Barkman and Desiree McIvor are members of Make Poverty History Manitoba’s steering committee. SEAN KILPATRICK / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Fight hatred by showing politicians where you stand. NATHAN MARTINDALE MICHAEL BARKMAN AND DESIREE MCIVOR ;