I wore a bulletproof vest for Jane and Finch visit, Vaughan-Woodbridge MP says

Community Safety and Corrections Minister Michael Tibollo made the remarks during question period July 18

Yorkregion.com
July 18, 2018
Rob Ferguson

The first-time cabinet minister in charge of Ontario’s anti-racism directorate has been branded a “racist” by New Democrat Leader Andrea Horwath for declaring he wore a bulletproof vest while visiting the Jane/Finch area as Toronto experiences an outbreak of shootings this summer.

Community Safety and Corrections Minister Michael Tibollo, a lawyer and rookie MPP for Vaughan-Woodbridge, made the remarks in the Legislature’s daily question period Wednesday in response to an NDP question on whether the new Progressive Conservative government will eliminate carding.

“I want to reassure everyone that the focus of this government is to ensure that safety is paramount in all communities. Personally, I went out to Jane and Finch, put on a bulletproof vest and spent 7 o’clock to 1 o’clock in the morning visiting sites that had previously had bullet-ridden people killed in the middle of the night,” Tibollo said.

 

“I’m not a police officer but what I can tell you is they need skills, they need tools to work with. Our work will be to ensure, working with the communities, that we build trust and that we have those tools provided to them to be able to do their jobs properly.”

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NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said her entire caucus was “appalled” by Tibollo’s “blatantly racist” statement.

“It’s one he should apologize for and withdraw immediately,” said Horwath.

“It is absolutely unacceptable to make an insinuation that going into a highly racialized community is going to necessitate the wearing of a bulletproof vest,” she said.

Horwath added that “from what we heard today,” the rookie minister “has no credibility whatsoever” to lead the government’s anti-racism efforts.

Tibollo later told reporters he donned the vest after it was given to him by Toronto police for the evening ride-along, in which he was joined by Premier Doug Ford.

“I sat at a spot where one gentleman the week before got shot 36 times. I stood right there and it’s a little bit unnerving for someone to have that experience,” he said after question period, insisting he takes anti-racism efforts “seriously.”

“I find the situation on the streets extremely dangerous and there are real people that live in these neighbourhoods that are looking for help ... to put on a bulletproof vest anywhere in this city to me is alarming.”

Tibollo said he is visiting other communities in the province, including Ottawa and Windsor, and will wear a bulletproof vest again if police give him one.

Deputy Premier Christine Elliott defended Tibollo’s comment, saying it “was not intentional” in targeting any one area of the city.

“I think that the intention was to talk about being in communities and talking about gun violence,” she said.

“It’s not happening in any one community, it’s happening across the city and I know that the minister is really interested in becoming familiar with what’s going on because we’ve seen a rise in gun violence.”

Elliott stressed the Progressive Conservative government would “absolutely not” reinstate carding.

“Carding is not one of those options,” she said when asked what Queen’s Park would do about the spate of gun violence.

Liberal MPP Mitzie Hunter, who is black, said Tibollo fuelled stereotypes about the Jane and Finch neighbourhood with his remark.

“We have to invest in the young people as they’re growing up. We have to give them options. We have to give them pathways so that they can see their future and work hard towards that.” added the former education minister.

“I think it’s completely unacceptable for anyone in leadership to stigmatize a community and reinforce stereotypes.”