Anti-racism consultations to begin in B.C.

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) —  B.C. is hoping you can help the province shape its new anti-racism legislation.

It’s launching public consultation with the goal of collecting data that reflects the needs and experiences of Indigenous people, Black people, and people of colour (IBPOC).

The new legislation is expected to be introduced in spring 2022.

“Systemic racism exists everywhere, including in government policies and programs, and we know that too many communities are facing barriers in their lives because of it,” said Rachna Singh, Parliamentary Secretary for Anti-Racism Initiatives.

“This engagement will help shed more light on the experiences of people using government services in B.C. so that we can break down these barriers they’re facing, identify gaps and deliver better supports. It will also ensure that our approach to collecting data meets the needs of IBPOC communities and does not exacerbate existing systemic issues.”

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Participants will be able to use SenseMaker, an online tool for sharing stories anonymously with researchers and policymakers working on anti-racism legislation. Through the tool, they can talk about their experiences with discrimination, whether for gender, sexual orientation, faith, ability, or other identities.

The province will also distribute grants to help people host engagement sessions within their communities.

“Black, Indigenous and racialized communities have been advocating for collection of disaggregated data for a long time, so we need to give them resources and follow their lead,” Singh said.

We know the issue of racism will not be solved by this alone. This is just one of many actions we are taking to stamp out discrimination in BC

1) Collection of Race Based Data to fill policy gaps and address barriers in accessing services

2) A first ever BC Anti-Racism Act

— Rachna Singh (@RachnaSinghNDP) March 20, 2021

“It’s important that we hear from communities to get this right, so the data collected helps us fight racism and isn’t used to further perpetuate stereotypes and misconceptions.”

The hope is that the data will help bring changes to policing, health care, and education that reflect the needs of the IBPOC in B.C.

Public engagement in multiple languages will run until Nov. 30, 2021, and Singh will be meeting British Columbians to get more specific feedback for the anti-racism strategy throughout the fall.