Many cities in Canada, including Toronto, have been reeling under racial issues. One major area of growing concern is the construction industry. In a bid to address racism, Mayor John Tory initiated a meeting with industry leaders. The objective of this meeting was to counter the anti-black agenda within the construction industry.
In a milestone event a new NGO (not for profit organization) has been launched to coincide with the beginning of Black History month in Canada. The aim of this organization is to end the racial discrimination especially prevalent in the construction industry.
Stephen Callender, who is the President of ACCA or the Afro Canadian Contractors Association, expressed the challenges being faced by Black contractors desirous of entering and making a mark in the construction industry. He said it was not only very difficult to get in, but once there, face a lot of mental agony and pressure.
He also pointed out the racist comments that mark the walls of a washroom at construction sites.
He welcomed the launch of the association and said that it has taken years of hard work and dialogue for this NGO to finally take shape.
He also mentioned that most people don’t believe in racism but it is existent even in big corporations and businesses in downtown Toronto. He mentioned instances of when contractors had to give up jobs in the construction industry and opt for other jobs owing to the anti-black agenda.
Racism has always existed in many countries and there have been instances to prove that. There would be much truth in saying that the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020 was a crucial event that fanned the desire worldwide, including the US and Canada to address racial and anti-black issues urgently.
