Press Release
Ottawa Valley Against Racial Discrimination
Green Party, Liberal, NDP and Independent candidates have responded to a federal election questionnaire issued by Ottawa Valley Against Racial Discrimination, Pflag Renfrew County, and Women’s Sexual Assault Centre of Renfrew County, and will participate in a virtual all-candidates forum on Sept. 15.
Ottawa Valley / unceded Algonquin Anishinaabe Territory – A coalition of equity-seeking groups is encouraging voters in Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke to learn where federal election candidates stand on race, LGBTQ2S+ and women’s issues. The three groups– Ottawa Valley Against Racial Discrimination, Pflag Renfrew County, and Women’s Sexual Assault Centre of Renfrew County– today posted candidate responses to their election questionnaire, and will be hosting an all-candidates forum via Zoom on Sept. 15 at 6 p.m.
Green Party candidate Michael Lariviere, Liberal candidate Cyndi Mills, NDP candidate Jodie Primeau and Independent candidate Stefan Klietsch responded to the questionnaire. Their answers are posted on the coalition’s election Facebook page, along with details about the all-candidates forum: https://www.facebook.com/OttawaValley2021.
“We appreciate the Liberal, NDP, Green Party, and Independent candidates for taking the time to share their positions and perspectives on pressing issues around race, gender and sexuality. We’re looking forward to an interesting and engaging discussion with these candidates on Sept. 15,” said Duane Gastant’ Aucoin of Ottawa Valley Against Racial Discrimination. “The fact that we received no response from the Conservative incumbent, Cheryl Gallant, is disappointing, and sends an unfortunate message to a significant proportion of the population that their issues don’t matter.”
Across the Ottawa Valley, there’s a growing recognition of the systemic barriers and discrimination that racialized, LGBTQ2S+ people and women face, and the pressing need for action. These barriers are being compounded by the many impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic, including economic precarity, a growing housing crisis, and climbing poverty rates.
The Sept. 15 all-candidates forum will be moderated by CBC journalist Cindy Tran, whose story about a racially motivated attack on her grandmother in Pembroke sparked a movement for change in several Ottawa Valley communities.
