Ontario commission seeks public input on offensive street names and landmarks

The Ontario Human Rights Commission is seeking public input on changing the names of derogatory streets and landmarks. According to Global News, the commission wants to address the "quickly evolving issue" that has led activists to call for the removal of statues of historical figures "perceived as colonizers, slave owners or who advances racist policies."

Earlier this summer, left-wing activists toppled the statue of Protestant minister and Canadian educator Egerton Ryerson at Ryerson University in Toronto. The University has since not replaced the toppled statue and plans to rename the school entirely.

According to The National Post, the school's board of governors approved a motion to accept all 22 recommendations from a special task force. One of these recommendations is to rename the school. This task force was assembled due to a nationwide protest against Canadian historical figures who played a role in Canada's dark history around residential schools.

The Ontario Human Rights Commission is now taking a similar move,

"What's in a name? Often, everything," Chief Commissioner Patricia DeGuire said in a statement.

"We continue to hear about communities disturbed by the name of a street, a sports team, a building or a monument. This policy statement is being designed to help foster better understanding of the human rights issues involved, and to prompt communities to work together in a respectful way to overcome these issues."

Those who wish to weigh in on the issue can complete an online survey or email the commission before October 22, 2021.