ADVOCACY
"To what extent does Canada have a racism problem?"
How do we create a more just and equitable Canada?
Big Idea:
What/who are you advocating for?
I am adovocating for the racialized and low-income groups in Canada that are impacted by COVID-19.
Audience:
Who needs to know this? Why? How are you going to let them know? Why is this the best format for this audience?
Residents and Government of Ontario
Many consider Canada as a "nice" country. But what if that was just a façade? The stories and experiences of those who are oppressed are simply hiding behind a mask. We need to take off the mask to reveal the truth and have justice for those who have been wronged.
COVID-19 has brought light to the racial, health and economic inequalities in Canada.
I will be using a website because everyone will be able to view the data that I will be showcasing.
Data:
Statistics to support your Big Idea (e.g., diagrams, tables, graphs, calculations, equations to represent quantitative data)
Racialized and low-income residents are doing worse in the pandemic.
Statistics
Racialized Groups:
Those who identify as Black represents 21% of reported COVID-19 cases in Toronto although they only account for 9% of the city's population. This tells us that they are over represented in the data. (https://toronto.ctvnews.ca)
Arab, Middle Eastern, West Asian, Latin American, South East Asian or Black communities were 6-9 times more likely to test positive for COVID-19 than the white population, from mid-May to July. (https://www.wellesleyinstitute.com)
Low-Income Groups:
COVID-19 test positive rates increased as household income decreased. The infection rates were 24 per 100,000 in those living in households with more than 150K income and 160 per 100,000 in those with household incomes less than 30K. (https://www.wellesleyinstitute.com)
30% of Toronto's population has a household income of $50,000 or less but that income group represents a little more than 50% of reported infections in the city. Low-Income groups are also overrepresented in data. (https://toronto.ctvnews.ca)
Take Action:
We need to address the systemic racism to better understand the members of these communities and further create solutions to keep them safe.
Improving the social determinants of health for these racialized groups: establishing affordable homes and improving jobs, wages and employment rights.