The Ontario NDP has 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. 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.
Here are the commitments the NDP have made in their platform in response to LACC's advocacy efforts:
The NDP have committed to declare February 22nd as the Day of Language Access (watch a video of MPP Doly Begum announcing this on LAD22 here), and establish a language access strategy that includes “language services available here” campaign to promote awareness to existing language service options.
This is an amazing step on the journey toward language access! We hope that all parties will follow suit - so help us make some noise! Check out the instructions below to see how you can help.
Since Ontario is less than two months 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.