The Green Party of Ontario have just released their 2022 electoral platform and it promises exciting advancements related to language access! Over the past few months, LACC members have met with Ontario MPPs from all parties to discuss how they can include #languageaccess in their platforms.
We have asked parties to commit to implementing language access strategies to ensure that all people have access to essential information and services regardless of the language that they speak or sign. We have also seen the NDP commit to a language access strategy, and the Liberal Party commit to a language access strategy geared towards Franco-Ontarians.
Here are the commitments the Green Party have made in their platform in response to LACC's advocacy efforts:
Equity through language access
Ensure that interpreters, translators, or multilingual written materials are available in publicly funded services. Improve awareness of their availability.
Ensure all government announcements are signed in both ASL and LSQ.
Provide tools for nonprofits to have french language resources.
Create incentives to increase the number of french-speaking individuals in teachers college programs.
This is yet another amazing step on the journey toward language access, so help us make some noise! Check out the instructions below to see how you can help.
Since Ontario is less than one month away from the
provincial election happening on June 2, 2022. We need to ensure that language access is a top priority, so here are a few things that we can do to get ready:
Ensure that you are registered to vote.
Email or tweet your local MPP and ask them if they will be supporting language access. Be sure to tag us @LAD_Canada so that we can spread the word!
Don't know who your MPP is? Find out here.
Did you know that Elections Ontario has voting information in 38 different languages? Take a look here and be sure to share it with those facing language access barriers!
We have made great progress so far - so let's keep going! We can achieve language access if we work together.