BY: MICHELLE DAGNINO
When the WHO declared the COVID pandemic on March 13, 2020, the lives of billions of people were impacted. The lives of most Canadians changed forever, plunging many people into crisis. For some Canadians there has been a silver lining – no more hours spent commuting, deeper connections with family, increased savings, and for many white collar professionals, they saw their business revenues and salaries increase.
Yet for the residents of Jane and Finch, like those in Malvern, or Agincourt, or Brampton East, the COVID-19 pandemic has been the culmination of 40 years of crisis.
The city’s poorest neighborhoods are contained in northwest Toronto. When the City of Toronto developed their neighborhood equity score system back in 2014, which looks at issues such as economic opportunity, social development and health, they ranked Black Creek, which consists of the area north of Finch, and Glenfield-Jane Heights, which is the area south of Finch, as the least healthy, equitable neighborhoods in the city. This did not happen overnight – this has been the case for over three decades.
Photo courtesy of Jane Finch Community and Family Centre Staff
The Province, and the City, has had decades to create and apply good policy to support the residents of Jane and Finch. They have chosen not to. In the years since the City instituted the neighborhood equity ranking system, there has been almost no substantive reallocation of resources into neighborhood based social services. The Province has deliberately and systemically cut and reduced the funding of organizations that support low-income and racialized residents. These same social service organizations have been at the forefront of the COVID-19 crisis since day one. We have signed families onto affordable internet; distributed hundreds of donated technology devices; called, visited, provided mobile internet access and laptops and one on one training to isolated seniors; delivered over 6,000 meals and food hampers; distributed thousands of masks and flyers with key public health information; accompanied vulnerable residents to COVID testing, and over the past 6 weeks have helped hundreds sign up for vaccines and transportation to clinics. Our work has kept many people out of hospitals, and has allowed thousands to access food and social supports during yet another period of crisis for the residents of Jane and Finch.
Yet when all the vaccines are distributed and life starts to feel normal again for the majority of Torontonians, what will change for the residents of Jane and Finch? They have risked their health to continue to go to work, most of them working in the factories, grocery stores and delivery companies that have allowed the rest of us to “stay home and stay safe”. 40 years of crisis, 411 days into a pandemic, and the essential workers of Jane and Finch have yet to be able to take a paid sick day. How many decades into a crisis will it take before the lives of our working poor, low income, and racialized residents are prioritized?
There are immediate solutions that can be implemented. First, for all Ontario workers to have access to ten days of paid sick days, paid directly by the employer, without any delay in payment. Second, an immediate $15 minimum wage for all, and permanent pandemic pay increases for all essential and front-line workers. Third, reallocation of law enforcement dollars into expansion of mental health service access. Fourth, annual cost of living increases included in all government service contracts with social service organizations. Fifth, free broadband internet access for all. When we raise the incomes of our poorest workers, allow people to stay safe at home when needed, increase access to social services supports, and give everyone equal access to information, we are making the City better for each and every one of us who live here.
Michelle Dagnino is the executive director of the Jane/Finch Community and Family Centre, a social services agency based in Black Creek founded by local residents over 40 years ago.