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w at er lo oc hr on ic le .c a W at er lo o C hr on ic le | T hu rs da y, M ay 19 ,2 02 2 | 6 ABOUT US This newspaper, published every Thursday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised of more than 70 community publications across Ontario. This newspaper is a member of the National NewsMedia Council. Complainants are urged to bring their concerns to the attention of the news- paper and, if not satisfied, write The National NewsMedia Council, Suite 200, 890 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M4W 2H2. Phone: 416-340-1981 Web: www.mediacouncil.ca editorial@waterloochronicle.ca facebook.com/waterloochronicle @wlchronicle WHO WE ARE VP, Regional Publisher Donna Luelo Director of Content Lee Ann Waterman Regional General Manager Nelson Parreira Regional Director of Media Heather Dunbar Advertising Representatives Fran Hendry, Katrina Anderson, Jan Bodanka, Matt Miller, Lisa Humphreys, Cassandra Dellow, Zaid Shahabuddin, Managing Editor Robyn Wilkinson Online Editor Loraine Centeno News Editor Ned Bekavac Reporter Bill Jackson Director Creative Services Katherine Porcheron CONTACT US Waterloo Chronicle 219 Labrador Dr. Suite 203, Waterloo, On., N2K 4M8 Phone: 519-886-2830 Web: www.waterloochronicle.ca Letters to the editor All letters must be fewer than 320 words and include your name and telephone number for verification purposes. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters. Published letters will appear in print and/or online at waterloochronicle.ca Delivery For all delivery inquiries, e-mail customerservice@metroland.com or call 519-894-3000. OPINION TO LEARN HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN CONTENT VISIT WATERLOOCHRONICLE.CA We reached out to mem- bers of Metroland's Commu- nity Advisory Councils, ask- ing them to write about is- sues of importance during this provincial election. This is one of those columns. One of the issues that faces 2SLGBTQ+ people is that we are frequently in- visible outside of Pride month. As we head into a provincial election, we want our voices to be heard. SPECTRUM is one of many 2SLGBTQ+ organizations across Ontario that worked together to launch the non- partisan Queer Vote Onta- rio initiative last month. We are asking for action on three priorities, includ- ing the development of a provincial 2SLGBTQ+ ac- tion plan, funding for 2SLGBTQ+ community or- ganizations and services, and access to gender af- firming health-care cover- age. At queervote.ca, indi- viduals can take and share a pledge that they will stand with 2SLGBTQ+ peo- ple when it comes time to vote, and candidates can take a pledge that they will support 2SLGBTQ+ people should they be elected. Candidates can also com- plete a questionnaire that will help voters understand where the candidate stands on issues important to us. Continually here in Wa- terloo Region, 2SLGBTQ+ people -- and especially transgender and non-bina- ry people -- face discrimi- nation and hatred. Wheth- er it's disguised in discus- sions about the age appro- priateness of books in school libraries, or involves the overt sharing of trans exclusive writings and speech, it means that we don't feel safe and we don't feel welcome. The local OutLook Study found that 73 per cent of trans people fear they will die young. Read that again. 73 per cent of trans people in our community fear they will die young. 2SLGBTQ+ youth in our community are struggling to cope with hate and ha- rassment, family rejection and homelessness, and a variety of mental health challenges. Despite these crises, rainbow organizations like SPECTRUM are chronical- ly underfunded. We need our leaders to recognize this and commit to provid- ing stable financial support to 2SLGBTQ+ community organizations. We need them to commit to provid- ing access to gender affirm- ing health-care coverage. We need them to commit to the development of a pro- vincial 2SLGBTQ+ action plan that will help us track these and other important life-saving issues. When you head to the polls, your 2SLGBTQ+ fam- ily members and friends need you to consider our in- terests. Will you help us fight homophobia, bipho- bia, and transphobia in Wa- terloo Region? Visit queer- vote.ca to take the pledge and share it with your net- works. And, as we head into Pride month, please re- member that Pride is not just a party -- it's a protest. There is still hard work to be done and you can help make a difference with your vote. Scott Williams (he/him) is the executive director of SPECTRUM Waterloo Region's Rainbow Commu- nity Space. He is a member of the LGBTQ2+ communi- ty with experience working and volunteering in the non-profit sector. 2SLGBTQ+ COMMUNITY NEEDS YOU TO CONSIDER OUR INTERESTS THERE IS STILL HARD WORK TO BE DONE AND YOU CAN HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE WITH YOUR VOTE, WRITES SCOTT WILLIAMS SCOTT WILLIAMS Column We reached out to mem- bers of Metroland's Com- munity Advisory Councils, asking them to write about issues of importance during this provincial election. This is one of those col- umns. As we head into the pro- vincial election campaign, we feel it is a great time to highlight some issues that candidates and media should be addressing and covering in party plat- forms and news articles. There are two million Indigenous peoples living in Canada with an estimate of 50,000 self-identified In- digenous people living in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cam- bridge, and Guelph. Indigenous people re- present 50 per cent of our local homeless population, 50 to 75 per cent of our chil- dren in care across the country, and over 30 per cent of our prison popula- tion nationally, with wom- en's prisons accounting for 50 per cent of Indigenous inmates. For Indigenous children in school, there is a 500 per cent higher drop- out rate. Simply put, this is the outcome of systemic dis- crimination and marginal- ization. The overrepresen- tation in these systems re- sults in lifelong social sup- ports. Children from Family and Children's Ser- vices progressively age in- to these other systems. We see a lack of healing, which includes poverty, addic- tion, and higher rates of food insecurity. There is massive system avoidance with police, education, health care and Family and Children's Services. There are hundreds of years of in- tergenerational trauma and many systemic barri- ers with business and edu- cation. For these reasons, at Anishnabeg Outreach, reconciliation is viewed through the lens of healing and economic indepen- dence that must be Indige- nous-led if it is to be suc- cessful, and developed though partnership if there is any hope for recon- ciliatory success. There is a dire need for mental health and employ- ment supports with the re- moval of barriers. We know that people cannot work if they are not healed. With- out healing, relationships can be toxic, family rela- tions can be abusive, and employment is unstain- able. With the aging popu- lation and baby boomer re- tirements we have large so- cietal issues ahead of us and also an incredible op- portunity to achieve recon- ciliation and ameliorate the impacts of intergenera- tional trauma and system- ic discrimination against our first peoples. Government and corpo- rate policies talk about the importance of equity, di- versity, and inclusion (EDI), yet overwhelmingly, we still see an underrepre- sentation of equity deserv- ing groups in business. Companies and govern- ment are demonstrating an emerging desire for EDI. The real reason that we have not achieved equity and representation at all levels is because, as a soci- ety, we have not invested in building out the EDI talent pool. From a political per- spective we hope govern- ments invest in centres of healing that could provide mental health and employ- ment supports to the Indig- enous community so that all Canadians can prosper. Stephen Jackson is the executive director of Anish- nabeg Outreach. RECONCILIATION WILL BENEFIT ALL ONTARIANS INVESTING IN INDIGENOUS CENTRES OF HEALING, MENTAL HEALTH AND EMPLOYMENT WILL MEAN ALL CANADIANS CAN PROSPER, WRITES STEPHEN JACKSON STEPHEN JACKSON Column