Mixed response to northern Ontario racism survey
A survey by a northern Ontario think tank shows that while communities in the region are generally welcoming to visible minorities, racism and discrimination are still prevalent.
The survey by the Northern Policy Institute (NPI) also found that experiences of visible minorities and Indigenous people differed.
The survey gathered input from residents in Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, Timmins, North Bay and Thunder Bay. Respondents identified challenges faced by visible minorities.
“Individual prejudice being a larger issue regarding the treatment of visible minorities and Indigenous peoples compared to discrimination built-in to laws and institutions,” said Mercedes Labelle, a senior policy analyst with NPI.
“There were also noted negative differences between the experiences of Indigenous peoples compared to visible minorities and the white population.”
Labelle said Indigenous respondents differed greatly with other survey takers on the issue of discrimination.
“Across the communities, Indigenous respondents are more likely to disagree with the statement ‘Discrimination against Indigenous peoples is no longer a problem,’ compared to white respondents,” she said.
Meantime, Batchewana First Nation Chief Dean Sayers said the survey paints an incomplete picture of racism in the North, particularly for Indigenous people.
“I think there should have been efforts to engage, specifically, the Indigenous community, the First Nations communities, and ask their thoughts and maybe work with us on talking to our people, and that can be done randomly as well,” Sayers said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
O'Toole says CSIS told him he was focus of Chinese misinformation, suppression effort
Conservative MP Erin O'Toole says Canada's spy agency has told him he was the target of Chinese interference intended to to discredit him and promote false narratives about his policies while party leader.

Early estimates indicate 200 structures damaged in Halifax-area wildfire
Approximately 200 homes or structures have been damaged by the wildfire that began burning Sunday in the Upper Tantallon, N.S., area, according to preliminary estimates.
U.S. officer shoots at truck driver near N.B. border crossing
Traffic is back up and running through the border crossing between Woodstock, N.B., and Houlton, Maine, after a security scare Monday.
Federal politicians congratulate Alberta's Danielle Smith on election win
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is congratulating Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on her election win, after she called out his 'harmful' energy policies in her victory speech.
Top AI CEOs, experts raise 'risk of extinction' from AI
Top artificial intelligence executives including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on Tuesday joined experts and professors in raising the 'risk of extinction from AI,' which they urged policymakers to equate at par with risks posed by pandemics and nuclear war.
Liberals still have faith in David Johnston's work on foreign meddling: House leader
Government House leader Mark Holland says the federal Liberals still have faith in the man they appointed to investigate the issue of foreign interference in Canadian elections.
Toronto Blue Jays player shares anti-LGBTQ2S+ video telling people why they should boycott Target
Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Anthony Bass has garnered social media attention once again after sharing an anti-LGBTQ2S+ video on his Instagram.
Danielle Smith's UCP holds onto power in Alberta
Danielle Smith is still the premier of Alberta, surviving a vigorous campaign and a tight vote Monday against NDP challenger Rachel Notley.
opinion | Don Martin: The lessons for Pierre Poilievre from the Alberta election
Danielle Smith's win in the Alberta election hands her the most starkly divided province confronting any premier in Canada, writes commentator Don Martin.