By Lincoln DePradine

General election in Ontario is just weeks away and the contesting parties, as expected, are making promising to woo voters in a bid to form the next provincial government.

The New Democratic Party, for instance, has pledged to launch a $20 million “Black Business Recovery Fund’’ and other supports for Black entrepreneurs, as part of an NDP plan “to make life better for people in Ontario’’.

“This is really a high-stakes election,’’ said NDP leader Andrea Horwath. “For far too long, government just hasn’t been working for people. COVID really exposed that.’’

The election is June 2^nd with challengers trying to unseat Premier Doug Ford’s Conservatives that formed the government in 2018, after winning 76 of 124 seats.

The Conservatives ousted the Kathleen Wynne-led Liberal government that lost official party status, when it captured just seven seats.

With a haul of 40 seats, Horwath’s NDP formed the Official Opposition.

“We can fix what matters most to people,’’ said Horwath, who is seeking to set up the second NDP government in Ontario’s history. The first, led by Bob Rae as premier, held office from 1990 to 1995.

According to Horwath, an Ontario NDP administration would assist small Black-owned businesses grow and thrive under a plan that comprises the “Business Recovery Fund’’; a “Buy Ontario’’ program comprising a “social procurement policy to support vendors who haven’t always had a seat at the table, including Black, racialized, new immigrant, and other business owners’’; and implementing a “Community Benefits’’ plan “to ensure local communities benefit from infrastructure projects’’, and that also would create “good-paying local jobs and apprenticeship opportunities’’.  

Entrepreneur Andria Barrett, a professional speaker and trainer and former president of the Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce, identifies with the challenges confronting small business owners.

“I know firsthand the struggles and systemic barriers Black small businesses faced before the pandemic and continue to face. We can help people over the biggest hurdle by opening up access to capital for entrepreneurs who’ve been left behind,’’ said Barrett, NDP candidate for Brampton South in the June 2^nd provincial polls.

In a major campaign announcement on Monday, Horwath said that under an NDP government, Ontarians can expect expanded healthcare and dental care coverage with use of the OHIP card.

She also promised other things such as universal mental health care; the introduction of a provincial pharmacare program; and the hiring of thousands of nurses, personal support workers and teachers.

“Today, I’m releasing our commitments to Ontarians,’’ said Horwath, who also has promised NDP action on other matters such as first-time homeownership; rent control; cost of living; job creation; and pledged to “fix’’ seniors’ homecare and longterm care.

“Folks aren’t asking for the moon and the stars. They just want someone who really gets what they’re going through, and they haven’t had that in a while. And, we know that the good news is that it doesn’t have to be this way,’’ she said.

 “We’re going to control skyrocketing rents and protect tenants; and we’re going to make sure that people have good jobs that pay the bills,’’ Horwath added.

“This is our vision to make life better for people in Ontario now. And, finally, start to fix the things that matter most – for today, and for generations to come.’’

Horwath, asked about an NDP government financing the promised programs, said as premier, her administration will be “responsible with the province’s treasury’’.

Programs would be implemented but “there’s absolutely no way that we would increase taxes on low-income families and middle-class families. People are having a hard enough time already’’, said Horwath.

However, she said, the “wealthiest Ontarians, the most profitable corporations – many of whom did very well during this pandemic – are going to be asked to pay their fair share’’.

Horwath and other party leaders are involved in intense election campaigning, crisscrossing communities, unveiling their policy platforms and meeting with various interest groups.

Last Thursday, April 21, several Black community groups hosted an online “Provincial Leadership Townhall’’.

Participants, who addressed community concerns such as education, healthcare, economic development and housing, included Horwath, Ontario Liberal Party leader Steven Del Duca and the Green Party’s Mike Schreiner.

The meeting was organized by Operation Black Vote Canada; Black Business and Professional Association; Coalition of Black Trade Unionists; Generation Chosen; and African Canadian National Coalition Against Hate, Oppression and Racism.