My beloved son, Shamar Powell Flowers, was brutally murdered on July 23, 2023. At just 29 years old, Shamar was not only the light of my life but a promising engineer whose future shone brightly. His life was callously extinguished, shot in the heart, leaving a chasm of loss and heartbreak that words cannot adequately describe. I carry this grief every day with every fibre of my being.

In the wake of this unimaginable loss, I faced the harsh economic reality initiated by Premier Doug Ford's decision to strip Ontario of the Compensation for Victims of Crime. This decision makes Ontario the only province that deprives victims' families of the crucial support they need to cope. The policy forces grieving families, like mine, to immediately return to work, disregarding the mental and financial support required during such times of devastation.

After Shamar's death, I sought assistance by reaching out to Doug Ford and Toronto's mayor Olivia Chow, hoping for empathy and action. Sadly, my cries for help went unheeded. This experience is painfully personal, yet it sheds light on broader issues of systemic racial discrimination. Black mothers often receive less support than their white counterparts, with resources more readily available and crimes against their families resolved more swiftly. The discrepancy is glaring and unjust.

Shamar was not a criminal; he had no criminal record, yet the indifference of both the justice system and our elected officials treated him—and our family—like we were undeserving of justice or compassion. It is vital to recognize that denial of support to grieving families disproportionately affects communities of color, reinforcing societal inequities.

It is crucial to restore the Compensation for Victims of Crime in Ontario. This petition calls upon Doug Ford and Ontario's government to reinstate this essential program, ensuring all families receive the support necessary during their darkest hours, irrespective of their race. Let’s work towards a more equitable and compassionate system that provides timely support for all victims' families.

Please sign this petition to urge our leaders to prioritize justice and restore hope for victims’ families. Together, we can demand change and ensure that no grieving family is left to navigate their loss without the support they deserve.