According to the article below, culled from Toronto Star, 87 per cent of Ghanaians in Toronto live below the poverty line

Newcomers on losing side of economic divide


IS PROUD of its citizens, all of its citizens. From international Caravan to Caribana to Taste of the Danforth to dragon boat races, the city celebrates its differences. One cannot come close to any city document, advertising, public posturing, international pronouncement or Olympic bid brochure without encountering the fanfaronading claim.

"Diversity Our Strength" is Toronto's worthy motto, adopted in 1998 for the amalgamated city; adopted even though there were scores of other worthy alternatives.

So if Toronto insists on boasting about its "multi" nature - language, culture, peoples, race, ethnicity - the city will have to insist on repairing its multi-inequities.

There are quite a few, as a city-commissioned report from York University researcher Michael Ornstein showed last year. City councillors have been grappling with the not-so-new findings since:

Some 62 per cent of Somalis, 70 per cent of Ethiopians and 87 per cent of Ghanaians in Toronto live below the poverty line - percentages city Councillor Lorenzo Berardinetti yesterday termed "quite startling."

While 14 per cent of Toronto families from European backgrounds live below the low-income cutoff, the percentage is 32 for aboriginals, 35 for South Asians and for the Arab, African, West Indian and Caribbean populations.

Toronto's adult unemployment rate for Europeans in 1996 was 7 per cent, compared to 12.5 per cent for non-Europeans. Ethiopians and Somalis experienced rates at 24 per cent, with Ghanaians at 45 per cent. Persons of Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Vietnamese and Latin American backgrounds suffer rates two to three times greater than the average.

The unemployment rate for all youth (15 to 24) is near 20 per cent. For African and black youth it is 38 per cent.

By any measure, this is an unhealthy picture in a prosperous city where right now, the majority of residents are from the traditional minority, non-white populations - the very populations that are over-represented in low-income jobs, or no jobs at all.

When a city staff report says "Toronto has found that its diversity has been a continuing source of success and prosperity for the city as a whole" this "city as a whole" doesn't extend into some neighbourhoods. At least, not where the newcomers sleep.

"We cannot ignore any longer that there is an economic divide in our city," said councillor and diversity advocate Sherene Shaw.

So, again, if Toronto insists on boasting about its "multi" nature - language, culture, peoples, race, ethnicity - the city will have to insist on repairing its multi-inequities.

This was just about the unanimous view expressed at the city's administration committee yesterday as councillors urged council to act quickly to improve the lives of newcomers.

How?

Among other things: The mayor and diversity advocate are to jointly file a report card on the state of diversity in Toronto. The city should hold an annual conference, with workshops, showcasing the best practices.

As part of budget submissions, city departments are to show how they've addressed the findings of the Ornstein report. And if budget cuts are made, staff must show how the cuts affect the vulnerable groups Ornstein identified.

Tam Goossen, president of the Urban Alliance of Race Relations, says the committee decisions, if approved by council, give minority groups a strong advocate at city hall.

It means the chief administrative officer, mayor, councillors and department heads are charged to monitor city policies and programs to ensure they improve, not aggravate, Toronto's sorry record of economic integration.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Royson James' column usually appears Monday, Wednesday and Friday.