April 9, 2026 Sidra Jafri NOW Toronto

Advocacy group Parents of Black Children is criticizing Ontario's Ministry of Education for staying silent for more than a year after the Ontario Human Rights Commission released the Dreams Delayed report, which included 29 recommendations to combat anti-Black racism in schools.

PoBC says Education Minister Paul Calandra has not provided timelines, commitments, or a plan to implement the recommendations, despite previous swift action on the Right to Read report.

PoBC's CEO says the lack of response is affecting progress, noting some school boards are waiting for direction from the ministry before taking action on anti-racism measures.

After receiving no reply by its April 8 deadline, the group says it will escalate its campaign, including potential walkouts, email campaigns to MPPs, and collaboration with unions such as the Ontario Teachers' Federation, which has expressed support for the report.

A Toronto-based advocacy group is calling out the Ministry of Education, who they say has remained silent for more than a year about recommendations that would help diminish racism in schools.

Parents of Black Children (PoBC), a group supporting Black students and their families, posted on X (formerly Twitter) on April 1, calling out Education Minister Paul Calandra, who they say has ignored a  March 2025 report  released by the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC).

The “Dreams Delayed” report in question outlines 29 recommendations of action to combat anti-Black racism. It states instances of racism have been proven in several published reports showing its prevalence within Ontario schools.

These recommendations address the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism, faculties of education, unions, education-duty holders and school boards directly, advising they complete multiple tasks such as acknowledging the issue, creating a framework to address racism and discrimination within schools, and expanding programs for Black students.

A  response to the report by PoBC  wrote that while the “Dreams Delayed” report's recommendations are welcome, they are more of a starting point, than a solution.

“More than [a year has] passed since its release, and the Ministry of Education has offered no plan, no timelines, and no commitment to act,” the response read in part. “This silence is not neutral. It is a refusal.”

PoBC's response added when the OHRC released the “ Right to Read” report  in February 2022, the Ministry of Education quickly implemented a new curriculum, training and millions in funding,  beginning in March 2022 .

“[We are] responding not simply out of obligation, but because the Ministry's silence demands a louder, firmer response from the communities they continue to neglect,” the group said.

PoBC's CEO Charline Grant told Now Toronto this silence was affecting those trying to improve educational circumstances.

“It's actually deafening, definite silence from the Ministry and the minister,” Grant explained. “…Parents are tired. The fight is exhausting. It is life changing… All they want is for their children to have a peaceful education, one that centers their needs, one that educates the child in front of them, not what the educator standing in front of the class thinks they are supposed to be.”

Despite Calandra being addressed directly on multiple occasions from PoBC, parents and other politicians while in the House of Commons, Grant says he hasn't spoken on the report or recommendations.

With other groups of educators and institutions on the recommendations list, Grant adds the minister's abstention makes an impact.

“We have been meeting with duty holders, some school boards are doing some work, but others have told us blatantly, they're waiting for the Ministry to tell them what to do,” Grant explained.

In the same social media post, PoCB said the minister had until April 8 to respond to the group, before they took action.

By April 9, the minister nor the Ministry of Education replied to PoBC.

“It’s angry. It’s hurtful,” Grant explained. “It is a government and a system that is telling us what they think of us, that our pain doesn't matter, which is part of the systemic anti-Black racism that we experience on a daily basis. They show a preference in who they center and whose lives matter, and they tell us very loudly that there is no care for the treatment of our children and who we are.”

Now, Grant says the advocacy group will be ramping up their campaign.

“We plan to hold the school boards accountable, whether it means a walkout by Black students, Black educators, and everyone who stands with us… we have a campaign that I've just started for everyone to email their own MPP, and say 'What are you doing? Do you support the 'Dreams Delayed' report?'”

Through these emails, Grant hopes residents ask parliament what their plan of action will be and when they address the issue.

One of the recommendations requested the Ministry of Education to create a framework that addressed human rights and anti-Black discrimination, although Grant says the work has already been done for them.

“PoBC created a framework there so they don’t have to spend money to do a framework,” she explained. 

Grant also added that PoBC spoke to multiple unions, including affiliates under the Ontario Teachers' Federation, who have told them they support the “Dreams Delayed” report and plan to bring it up as part of their bargaining deal.

“This doesn't only affect Black students. It affects Black educators,” Grant said. “[The Ministry of Education has] a real opportunity to make a difference in the treatment of Black students with the education system.”

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