Glover, community advocates mark National Day Against Gun Violence

QUEEN’S PARK – Ontario NDP MPP Chris Glover (Spadina—Fort York) joined members of Danforth Families for Safe Communities, One By One Movement, Zero Gun Violence Movement, Think 2Wice, and Children's and Parents' Empowerment to call on the province to proclaim the first Friday of June as Provincial Day Against Gun Violence in Ontario.

Following the proclamation made by the Federal government, Glover introduced Bill 119, Provincial Day Against Gun Violence in Ontario Act, 2023, which if passed, will proclaim the first Friday of June as the Day Against Gun Violence.

“I am honoured to stand with these remarkable advocates to have this very important conversation and I would also like to thank the Toronto Raptors for their leadership and support,” said Glover. “We must focus on the trauma that communities face, address root issues like the housing crisis, poverty, education, and focus on prevention, intervention, and healing. Ford Conservatives cannot address gun violence while cutting resources from our classrooms, in healthcare, community and social services. We need to approach these issues from the bottom up.”

Quotes:

Alison Irons, Mother of Gun Femicide Victim Lindsay Wilson

"Whole communities or neighbourhoods in Ontario experience trauma, fear and a lack of tangible government or other support after a gun violence incident. The provincial government and municipal governments must develop, fund and provide services and supports to help communities heal from the effects of gun violence."

Ken Price, Spokesperson for Danforth Families for Safe Communities (DFSC)

"We know firsthand how difficult it is to cope with the sudden shock and loss that gun violence brings. The province needs to offer more comprehensive and flexible approaches to recovery considering the many ways profound grief affects victims, their families and their community."

Zya Brown, Founder of Think 2wice

“Young people are going into jail and prison gang involved and coming out gang involved. They are going in NOT gang involved and coming out gang involved. Without culturally relevant programming that addresses gun and gang involvement, incarceration is not rehabilitation.”

Stacey King, mother whose children were shot on a playground in Toronto

“I’m an angry mother, whose children are in pain and living with PTSD. The government makes us feel like they don’t care. The violence in Toronto is out of control. Kids don’t feel safe anywhere. When will the government realize this kind of violence needs to stop? When it’s their kids who are victims?”

Louis March, Founder of the Zero Gun Violence Movement

“We have to stop using a one-dimensional response to a multidimensional problem.”

Marcell Wilson, Founder and President of the The One By One Movement

“We have to have an acute focus on the root causes of gun violence such as disparities and inequalities in education, tackling poverty, and removing firearms from the streets."

Melissa Hood, Founder and President of Children's and Parents' Empowerment (C.A.P.E.)

“There is a lack of cultural sensitivity, trauma informed awareness, intervention, prevention, and healing programs within the education system. We need to implement solutions like these at a provincial level, eliminating built-up aggression that provokes violence across the school boards which impacts our communities, city, region, and province. Canada as a whole needs to work cohesively on all levels.”