OCASI Response to Bob Runciman
July 12, 2005
The Honourable Bob Runciman
Minister of Public Safety and Security
18th Floor, 25 Grosvenor Street
Toronto, Ontario
M7A 1Y6
Fax: (416) 325-6067
August 7, 2003
Dear Mr. Runciman,
The Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI) is the umbrella organization for community-based agencies serving immigrants and refugees in Ontario.
OCASI is deeply offended by your comments that some members of Toronto’s Black community have a “vested interest” in promoting violence. The assumption that leaders of the Black community or any other community stand to benefit from crime is not only insulting, but undermines years of work by stakeholders in the community and Police service sectors.
As the Minister of Public Safety and Security, the organizations and communities served by OCASI members look to you to promote a climate of tolerance and respect. The comments attributed to you in the media serve instead to foster intolerance and support the perception that racial profiling is acceptable in Ontario.
As a sector concerned with issues of equity and the safety of all Ontario residents, we cannot stress enough the important role that our elected officials have in showing leadership on this issue. The Council urges you to meet with leaders of the affected community to begin to build the bridges necessary for the development of trust between Ontario’s African Canadian Community, the Ontario government and our Police Services.
Yours sincerely,
Debbie Douglas
Executive Director
CC: Ernie Eves, Premier, Ontario
African Canadian Legal Clinic
African Canadian Social Development Council
Urban Alliance on Race Relations
Jamaican Canadian Association