The federal government has committed $110.4 million to a comprehensive anti-racism and discrimination strategy, as announced by Kamal Khera, Canada’s Minister of Diversity, Inclusion, and Persons with Disabilities, on Saturday.
Speaking at a press conference, Khera emphasized that this funding will support “hundreds” of initiatives, positively impacting the lives of “thousands” of Canadians.
“Our strategy integrates the voices and lived experiences of countless Canadians, strengthening our whole government approach to fighting racism and discrimination in all its forms,” Khera stated.
The newly launched strategy, titled “Changing Systems, Transforming Lives: Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy,” will be implemented from 2024 to 2028.
Khera highlighted that more than $70 million of the total funding will be allocated to local projects across the country. This ensures that communities have the resources necessary to effectively combat racism and discrimination.
The strategy outlines four key action areas aimed at promoting economic, social, and cultural empowerment within communities. These areas include:
- Economic, Social, and Cultural Empowerment: Enhancing opportunities for marginalized communities.
- Racial Equity in Various Sectors: Improving equity in immigration, health, and housing systems.
- Justice and Public Safety: Driving reforms within the justice and public safety sectors.
- International Engagement: Using global platforms to advance racial equity.
From 2019 to 2022, Canada invested $45 million in its anti-racism strategy. However, Khera noted that recent global events have had significant and often devastating impacts, including within Canada.
Indigenous, Black, racialized, and religious minority communities continue to encounter barriers to inclusion due to persistent racism and discrimination.
A Statistics Canada survey from May revealed that over one-third of Canadians (36%) aged 15 and older have faced “some form of discrimination or unfair treatment” in the past five years. These incidents occurred in various settings, such as schools, workplaces, shopping centers, and healthcare facilities.
Additionally, a KPMG report from February found that more than 8 out of 10 Black Canadians still experience some form of workplace discrimination.