By: Joseph C. Grogan, B.A. M.Ed., Trade Unionist & Community Educator
in order to achieve justice and equality of opportunity, members of the Sikh community and others who are trying to achieve a better life for themselves, their families and for the entire community must give some serious thought as to what goals can be achieved and through what kind of actions. In this article, I’d like to suggest some ideas for the consideration of the Sikh community in Canada, Some ‘of these ideas would cenainly be applicable in other contexts as well as for other groups in society, In making these comments, I’m taking as a given, certain factors. These factors will be commented on first.
Unfortunately, racism is a reality in Canada and this reality has been proven through various reports and Studies. In an earlier article, I referred to two projects undenaken through the Social Planning Council Of Metro Toronto that prove that racism docs exist and the different forms it takes. Readers can obtain Copies of the projects” reports from this agency, and these reports are entitled, No Discrimination Here? and Who Gets The Work? The additional factor that needs to be commented on is the importance of or
Ganization in achieving change. By this I mean that in order to accomplish anything, we must be organized that is, we must have some sort of a plan, a time frame covering that plan and some ideas around how we can mobilize our resources time, people, money, skills/energy, We must plan our work, then work our plan. In developing a plan of action, we must be aware of power Structures that will come into play that will try to discredit responsible Organizations. In other words, we must anticipate what the Opposing forces are likely to do in Certain Situations and build into our plan safeguards to deal with such forces.
As a person who is interested in making change possible within the Canadian context, here are some suggestions.
1, Employment Equity Legislation Ontario Presently, the Ontario government is conducting public hearing on legislation, entitled Bill 79 which is designed to establish employment equity in the province. The legislation is supposed to establish procedures whereby barriers to equal employment are to be removed. The law is required since it is well recognized by human rights activists that systemic discrimination does exist. Four groups presently are covered by the lawwomen, persons of color, native people and persons with disabilities. The law will require all employers covered to have a workforce that fairly represents the general profile of the community where it works. The Sikh community must become more aware of this law because many human rights activists think that the law is very weak, with many loopholes. For example, the law should be stronger in providing mandatory audits of an employer’s recruitment and selection actions. Those who the law is to protect must also be aware that conservative forces are very active in promoting myths that hold that unqualified persons are getting preference in other words the protected groups. The Sikh com~ munity must use lobbying and peaceful demos to show why the law is needed and why it requires more rigorous requirements. For example, under the present law, the provincial public sector employee and private sector employers of 50 or more employers are covered. In Canada, the vast majority of jobs in the last 15 years or so have been produced by small businesses. These private sector employers are not presently covered by the law!
- Human Rights Violations Must Be Opposed. In Ontario, we have a human rights code which, among other things, promotes the idea of the meril principle, However, if this code really worked, we would not I guess, need the Employment Equity law discussed above. This cade covers a number of areas not just employment such as equality in regards to services, equality in regards to membership in such organizations as unions, and equality in regards to accommodation. The Sikh community must examine this subject and undertake measures for protecting its own cOmmunily members and in particular, be prepared to push the Ontario Human Rights Commission to examine its own hiring practices, resource allocation, and methods for pursuing cases. The new head of the Commission, Rosemary Brown, is a person who has a genuine commitment to correct many of the problems that have plagued this agency for many years, with many cases that predate the present government in Ontario. To be successful in this area of struggle, the Sikh community must be involved in political actionplacing demands on politicians from al) parties. Shortly, Canadians will be involved in a national election to determine who will govern Canada at the federal level. Human rights must be put on that agenda as well,
- Educational Reform Making Curricula Reflect The Community In Canada under our present constitution, education is part of the responsibility of the provinces, although the federal government has a definite influence with respect 16 postsecondary institutions because of transfer payments from the fed~ eral government to the provinces. Over the last eight years in Canada, these transfer payments have been cul more and more, producing now A situation wherein Ontario is spending least of all to provinces, per capita on postsecondary education, Yet, we expect the educational system at all levels, to do more and more, If the situation is to Improve, those from the Sikh community who want to see positive changes for their families must star to ask questions as to the degree curricula reflects a diversity such as is found in the communities in which we live and work, This too is another area” for political action and Struggle. The Sikh community could form action committees at the local community level to monitor educational programs and to push for change,
- Internal Organization.
These ideas suggested here, demand that the Sikh community give increased priority 10 educational programs for the members of its own community, Through community education, we can build increased awareness, or Ganization and, more effective mobilization for ac— tions. In other words, by building one’s own identity, we also build alliances with others to produce positive change for all.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 10, 1993
