Ontarians watched in disbelief and horror as Premier Doug Ford exploited the deadly third wave of COVID-19 to reinstate the racist and reprehensible practice of carding. Many have sprung into action to resist. But outside of public scrutiny, Premier Ford continues to expand policing powers in Ontario.
Ontario’s Bill 251 is named the Combating Human Trafficking Act, but this law will do nothing to prevent human trafficking. Bill 251 will only expand police powers to racially profile all residents while targeting sex workers. Because the law is framed as being about “protection” and “combating human trafficking”, Bill 251 has thus far escaped scrutiny despite its dangerous and far-reaching consequences.
Bill 251 gives unchecked power to police and a new cadre of “inspectors” — including the ability to conduct sweeping surveillance with no oversight.
This will put more Black, Indigenous and racialized communities, especially migrants, youth, women and sex workers at risk.
Sign our statement, follow our social media for future calls to actions!
ANSWERS
Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights
African Sex Workers Alliance
AQUA (Asian Queer Alliance)
Asociación Civil Cambio y Acción
Asociación de mujeres ts liquidambar
BAYSWAN
Butterfly (Asian and Migrant Sex Workers Support Network )
Canadian Alliance for Sex Work Law Reform
CAYR Community Connections
Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity
Chinese Canadian Collective
Chinese Canadian National Council Toronto Chapter
Communities Against Criminalization
Community Justice Collective
CSSP Legal Clinic
Decent Work and Health Network
Decriminalize Sex Work
Doctors for Defunding Police
Empower Foundation
Families of Sisters in Spirit (FSIS)
FCJ REFUGEE CENTRE
Filipinas of HamOnt
Freedom United
Friends of Chinatown Toronto
Gay Men's Sexual Health Alliance
Global Alliance Against Trafficking in Women Canada
Good For Her
Hamilton Asian Alliance
Harm Reduction Hawaii
Harmony House
Health Providers Against Poverty
HIV & AIDS Legal Clinic Ontario
HIV Legal Network
Hollaback! Ottawa
Justice for Migrant Workers
Kensington market tenant network
LAEN- The Latinx, Afro-Latin-America, Abya Yala Education Network
Latinx, Afro-Latin-America, Abya Yala Education Network
Le PIaMP
LEFÖ - Beratung, Bildung und Begleitung für Migrantinnen
Migrante Ontario
New Harlem Productions
No One Is Illegal
Ontario Coalition Against Poverty
No Pride in Policing Coalition
North York Women's Shelter
OHIP for All
Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women
Parkdale Community Legal Services
Poverty Kills 2020
POWER (Prostitutes of Ottawa-Gatineau Work Educate Resist)
Queer Ontario
Queer Sex Workers Initiative for Refugees
Queerit
Rittenhouse: A New Vision
SAFETY Ottawa
Sanctuary Students Solidarity & Support Collective
Sex Professionals of Canada (SPOC)
Sex Workers' Action Network of Waterloo Region
Sistering
South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario
South Riverdale Community Health Centre
St James Infirmary
Stella, l'amie de Maimie
Sudbury Workers Education and Advocacy Centre
SURJ Toronto
SWAN Waterloo
SWAP Hamilton
SWOP BEHIND BARS
Talk Future Canada
Tea Base
The Bike Brigade
The Biking Lawyer LLP
The Leap
The People’s Pantry
Toronto Prisoners Rights Project
Toronto Street Nurses Network
Trans Pride Toronto
University of Toronto Law Union
Utsopi, Belgium
WomanACT