Ontario's young people, many facing obstacles to opportunity intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic, now have an advocate.
Premier Doug Ford and Minister of Children, Community and Social Services Todd Smith revealed the Premier's Council on Equality of Opportunity on Thursday. This new advisory panel will provide guidance on how young people can overcome various barriers and achieve personal and professional success. The council will also advise the government on issues concerning how the pandemic is affecting young people.
"It starts with our young people, it starts with our next generation, it starts with equipping them with the tools they need. It starts with giving every young person, from every community, from every neighbourhood, the tools to succeed," said Ford.
The council will have up to 20 members, including a chair and a vice-chair. Membership will be diverse and include people between the ages of 18 to 29, as well as adults with expertise from community organizations, not-for-profit businesses, education, and government services.
Smith said the council had been in the works for some time, yet the pandemic provided a whole new set of issues for vulnerable youth and families.
"Over the past couple of months, the COVID-19 outbreak has intensified this," said Smith. "Children, youth and families who are already facing systematic barriers have seen further challenges arise from this pandemic."
The uproar over the alleged murder of a black Minneapolis man, George Floyd, was heavy on the mind of Jamal Jivani, Ontario's Advocate for Community Opportunities. He will be the council's first chair. Jivani called the mission of the new council more powerful than ever.
"We did not wait for CNN to tell us that there is a problem," said Jivani. "Rather, we've been working on these issues for months, because it's the right thing to do."
In addition, Ford announced that the government will provide $1.5 million in funding to organizations that support black communities, for the purpose of addressing the impact of the pandemic on families and youth of colour.
Anyone interested in joining the council should apply to Ontario's Public Employment Secretariat by Thursday, June 18.