e-2669 (Social affairs and equality)

The Government would like to thank the petitioners for their request that calls upon the House of Commons to pass a resolution for the Government of Canada to revise Canadian history books to detail the history of slavery and the Black and Indigenous slave trade so that Canadians understand and recognize the violent past of our colonizers and all the harms committed against the First Nations; eliminate all symbols of our ancestors who are still considered heroes as they are reminders of the injustice and abuse of power imposed on Black and Indigenous peoples; and rename streets and parks named after these individuals and then revise their dictionary entries to include the negative consequences of their actions.

The Government of Canada recognizes the enslavement of African and Indigenous Peoples in Canada and the racism, prejudice, inequalities, and systemic barriers that Canadians of African descent and Indigenous Peoples continue to face.

The Government also recognizes the importance of sharing the history of Black Canadians and Indigenous people, by promoting their cultural heritage, and continuing to highlight the significant contributions they have made and continue to the growth and development of Canada.

Monuments and public art, commemorative dates, as well as municipal onomastics can be powerful reminders of our history. They can unite us in grief, help us learn about our past and bring us together as Canadians.

On January 30, 2018, on behalf of the Government of Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau officially recognized the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024), which encourages states to support under its “recognition” pillar education measures with a view to restoring the dignity of people of African descent.

Motion M-36, sponsored by Liberal MP Majid Jowhari (Richmond Hill), seeks to designate August 1 of every year as “Emancipation Day” in Canada, which recalls that the British Parliament abolished slavery in the British Empire as of August 1, 1834, and that slavery existed in British North America prior to its abolition. Motion M-36 also recognizes the International Decade and the contributions of Canada’s people of African descent to the country. These initiatives will strengthen long standing efforts to commemorate Black history and culture since the first national Black History Month campaign occurred in February 1996.

A key component of Building a Foundation for Change: Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy (2019-2022) is the National Public Education and Awareness Campaign, which will help increase public awareness and understanding, in both urban and rural areas, of the historical roots of racism and its different impacts on Indigenous Peoples, as well as racialized and religious minority communities.  

With the leadership of the Federal Anti-Racism Secretariat and the Department of Employment and Social Development Canada, the Government has established an interdepartmental Working Group on the International Decade for People of African Descent to help coordinate federal action in this area.

On July 31, 2020, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada announced four new designations under the National Program of Historical Commemoration, as part of the effort to shed light on the collective and personal experiences of Black Canadians and their struggles for freedom, equality and justice. One of these new designations is called The Enslavement of African People in Canada (c. 1629–1834), which recognizes the national historic significance of the over 4,000 enslaved people of African descent in the British and French colonies at that time.

On September 29, 2020, the Minister of Canadian Heritage announced an important step in implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #80 by introducing Bill C-5, which seeks to establish a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation for federally regulated workers that will be observed as a statutory holiday on September 30.

And on October 15, 2020, the Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth announced the 85 projects that would receive funding under the new Anti-Racism Action Program. These projects will help national, regional, and local organizations make real change on the ground, in their communities and across Canada.

Through Canada's Anti-Racism Strategy, the Government of Canada will continue working with Indigenous Peoples to promote educational awareness on the history and experiences of Indigenous Peoples in Canada, including the effects of colonialism and the results of the residential school system that remain misunderstood in many parts of the country.

The Government of Canada encourages key intergovernmental initiatives, such as those of the Council of Ministers of Education (CMEC), to ensure that educational materials that fall under the jurisdiction of the provincial and territorial governments reflect historical facts accurately as they relate to past tragedies and atrocities, in particular slavery, the slave trade, the transatlantic slave trade and colonialism. The CMEC Indigenous Education Plan, 2019-2022, is a key initiative of the intergovernmental body aiming at improving Indigenous education, revitalizing Indigenous languages and strengthening Indigenous culture and identity through education across Canada.

It is important that Canadians continue to learn about the full scope of our history. While much work remains to be done to address the intergenerational trauma caused by slavery and dismantle its enduring legacy, the Government of Canada knows that learning this history is key to understanding and addressing the realities that Black Canadians and Indigenous peoples continue to face. We will continue to work with community to build back better and consciously more inclusive.