43rd Parliament289Closed upon dissolutionAugust 15, 2021e-3338e-3338 (Social affairs and equality)ZahraDhananiJulieDabrusinToronto—DanforthLiberalONApril 20, 2021, at 11:59 a.m. (EDT)July 19, 2021, at 11:59 a.m. (EDT)July 20, 2021Petition to the <Addressee type="3" affiliationId="" mp-riding-display="1">Government of Canada</Addressee>Whereas:Throughout 2020-21, nooses, racial slurs and other expressions of hatred against Black people have been reported at various construction sites within Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia;Black workers have reported being harassed, assaulted, and have felt unsafe while working on site;In response, a number of community forums have occurred involving representatives from all levels of government, as well as representatives from the construction industry, and labour organizations;Communities have protested to call for lasting changes and appropriate consequences for perpetrators to deter others from carrying out these hateful acts;Representatives from within the industry have acknowledged that anti-Black racism is commonplace; andAll of these reported incidents are in contravention of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Labour Code, Criminal Code, Human Rights Act, and applicable provincial health and safety legislation.We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to: 1. Create a National Task Force on Racial Violence in Construction to lead an investigation into the conditions on commercial construction sites, with a report on recommendations; this, in order to create a culture shift towards a safe and healthy environment for all workers, especially Black workers; and2. Require recipients of any federal construction contract to conduct anti-racism training, with a focus on anti-Black racism, for all workers, supervisors, managers and executives, including any subcontractors, and to provide a project-specific anti-racism strategy and incident response plan, with an emphasis on ensuring contractor evaluation and compliance.Black CanadiansBuilding and construction industryRacial equality43rd Parliament291Not answered before dissolutionAugust 15, 2021e-3345e-3345 (Culture and heritage)DonaldOliverDarrellSamsonSackville—Preston—ChezzetcookLiberalNSMay 19, 2021, at 11:05 a.m. (EDT)June 18, 2021, at 11:05 a.m. (EDT)June 22, 2021June 18, 2021Petition to the <Addressee type="1" affiliationId="" mp-riding-display="1">House of Commons</Addressee>Whereas:The Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia, established in 1983 by the Black Cultural Society of Nova Scotia as the first and largest Museum dedicated to Black History and the African Nova Scotian legacy in Canada; Nova Scotia is the birthplace of Black Culture in Canada and has over 52 historic Black communities, many of which can trace their origins to the 17th century; Nova Scotia is home to the oldest and largest multi-generational indigenous Black Community that predates Canada’s Confederation; The early historic migrations of the Black Loyalists, Jamaican Maroons, Refugees of the War of 1812 and Caribbean Migrants contributed to the diverse landscape of Canada; The Designation of a National Black Cultural Centre and Museum is an important action in deepening Canada’s commitment toward eliminating anti-Black racism in our society and recognizing the historic and ongoing contributions of Black Canadians to our country, communities and the UN Decade for the People of African Descent; and Providing Canadians with a base for a greater understanding of a diverse culture in an inspiring way.We, the undersigned, citizens or residents of Canada, call upon the House of Commons to designate the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia, located on 10 Cherry Brook Road in the community of Cherry Brook in the historic Township of Preston, Nova Scotia, as Canada’s National Black Cultural Centre & Museum.Black CanadiansBlack Cultural Centre for Nova ScotiaCultural heritageNova Scotia43rd Parliament223Government response tabledJune 7, 2021e-3147e-3147 (Employment and labour)EmmanuelKiyandaAlexandreBoulericeRosemont—La Petite-PatrieNDPQCFebruary 2, 2021, at 11:48 a.m. (EDT)April 3, 2021, at 11:48 a.m. (EDT)April 23, 2021June 7, 2021April 7, 2021Petition to <Addressee type="4" affiliationId="253379" mp-riding-display="1">the Minister of Labour </Addressee>Whereas: The purpose of the Employment Equity Act, passed in 1986, is to achieve equality in the workplace and to correct the conditions of disadvantage experienced by designated groups, identified as women, Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minorities; Today, the situation for Black people is problematic and the Act does not collect information to understand how dire the situation is and how it can be fixed; Black communities in Canada have doubled in size in the last 25 years to reach 1.2 million people; The experiences and the diversity of Black communities are often lumped into the “visible minority” category and neglected; Even when Black people find jobs, the systemic racism they experience in the workplace may mean they hit a glass ceiling; According to Statistics Canada; Being Black in Canada means having a salary that is 26% lower on average, having a much higher unemployment rate and being the victim of workplace discrimination more often; A Black man, in 2015, earned approximately $15,000 less than other men. In 2000, this gap was $11,869; and In 2016, a Black woman was nearly twice as likely as other women (19.6% compared with 10.9%) to be the victim of unfair treatment or discrimination in the workplace. We, the undersigned, citizens (or residents) of Canada, call upon the Minister of Labour to consider the Black population as a separate designated group in the Act.
Response by the Minister of LabourSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Anthony HousefatherThank you for your petition regarding the experience of Black Canadians and requesting that the Black population be recognized as a separate designated group under the Employment Equity Act (EEA).The Government of Canada believes that Canada’s strength lies in its diversity. Creating equitable, diverse and inclusive workplaces will help grow our middle class and build a country where every Canadian has a real and fair chance to succeed. One of the ways the Government of Canada promotes equality is through the EEA, which seeks to correct the conditions of disadvantage in employment experienced by four designated groups: women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minorities in federally regulated workplaces. These groups were identified by the 1984 Equality in Employment: A Royal Commission Report as having lower salaries, higher unemployment rates and greater concentration in lower-paying occupational groups.Since 1984, we have learned more about these barriers and the communities that comprise the designated groups. The category of visible minorities, for example, encompasses different populations with different labour market experiences. This is why, in 2021, a review of the EEA is necessary and is a priority for our government.In the 2020 Fall Economic Statement, our Government announced an investment of $6.6 million to support a Task Force on modernizing the EEA. The Minister of Labour’s supplementary mandate letter (January 2021) includes the commitment to launch a review of the EEA  in alignment with the aim of advancing work on equity, diversity and inclusion for women, LGBTQ2 Canadians, Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized Canadians, persons with disabilities and other underrepresented groups.The Task Force will undertake a comprehensive review of the EEA and its supporting programs, consult with a wide range of stakeholders and provide recommendations on how to modernize the EEA. Among the issues the Task Force will be considering is determining what changes are required to the designated groups covered by the Act, how the EEA can lead to better representation, retention, and promotion of equity-deserving groups, and what data employers should be required to collect.The Government of Canada has taken steps to advance equity over the years, but we know that more work needs to be done to create a level playing field for all Canadians. The Government of Canada continues to be committed to supporting equity-deserving groups, including Black people, and building a society where everyone has equal rights and opportunities to be their true, authentic selves.
Black CanadiansEmployment equityRacial equality
43rd Parliament223Government response tabledJanuary 25, 2021e-2699e-2699 (Public safety)AlexandraQuaresmaJulieDzerowiczDavenportLiberalONJuly 6, 2020, at 1:05 p.m. (EDT)November 3, 2020, at 1:05 p.m. (EDT)November 23, 2020January 25, 2021November 3, 2020Petition to the <Addressee type="1" affiliationId="" mp-riding-display="1">House of Commons</Addressee>Whereas:Structural racism has resulted in the Canadian genocide of Indigenous peoples, including the 1,000+ missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls;The RCMP’s founding colonial history was to exert control over Indigenous peoples and their lands;The RCMP continues to enforce discriminatory systems and policies on Indigenous peoples and their lands, including the recent, violent raids on Wet’suwet’en land defenders; andFirst Nations, Indigenous, Inuit, and Metis peoples make up 4.9% of Canada’s population, yet the RCMP budget is disproportionately allocated toward policing these communities, with scores of instances that are unnecessarily fatal or lead to avoidable incarceration.We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the House of Commons to: 1. Reallocate RCMP funding and resources to create an alternative to policing, in a way that invests in communities through mental health, social services, transportation, housing, food security and education; in addition to creating response teams that are trained in cultural understanding and competency, sensitivity, gender competency, and trauma-informed care;2. Eliminate mandatory minimum sentencing measures and revisit restrictions on conditional sentencing in order to stop the revolving door of the criminal justice system that disproportionately targets Indigenous peoples, Black people, and people living in poverty;3. Implement the action items outlined by the Parliamentary Black Caucus;4. Urgently implement the recommendations put forth by the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
Response by the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency PreparednessSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Joël Lightbound, M.PFirst-and-foremost, policing based solely on a person’s race or ethnicity is abhorrent, unacceptable and unlawful. It is contrary to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and our government remains firm: there is no place for racism or bias of any kind within police forces in Canada.All police services, including the RCMP, are committed to ensuring that the people that they are sworn to serve and protect are treated with dignity and with respect. The majority of our police officers perform their duties with integrity, professionalism and respect. When misconduct does occur, we cannot defend the indefensible. The act must be quickly investigated and officers held accountable for their actions.Canadians can and deserve to have both support and investments in essential services, such as mental health supports, as well as culturally-competent policing. We are working to create the conditions for everyone who works within these systems to take the necessary steps to produce more equitable outcomes and address the unacceptable overrepresentation of Indigenous and Black Canadians in our judicial system.We are working with provincial, territorial, municipal and Indigenous leaders to respond to our real concerns about systemic racism and discrimination in how policing is delivered today. It is essential for the police to maintain the trust of the communities they serve, and this can be achieved through our collective efforts to enhance accountability and transparency in policing, to advance de-escalation and reduce the use of force and to strengthen the integration of public safety and the delivery of health and social services.As outlined in the Speech From the Throne, we will
  • Move forward on enhanced civilian oversight of our law enforcement agencies, including the RCMP;
  • Modernize training for police and law enforcement, including addressing standards around de-escalation for people in crisis;
  • Move forward on RCMP reforms, with a commitment to community-led policing; and
  • Accelerate work to co-develop a legislative framework for First Nations policing as an essential service.
Additionally, we will introduce legislation and make investments that take action to address the systemic inequities in all phases of the criminal justice system, from diversion to sentencing, from rehabilitation to records.The RCMP is also working with Statistics Canada and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police to collect and publish police-reported crime statistics on Indigenous and racialized groups — including on victims and accused persons and the use of force — to inform the creation of effective and evidence-based policies and practices.The Government of Canada is also acting to eliminate systemic racism and discrimination in the broader criminal justice system. Each of the other agencies under the Public Safety Portfolio — the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, the Canada Border Services Agency, Correctional Services Canada and the Parole Board of Canada — are working hard to integrate strategies and approaches to identify and reverse systemic barriers and broaden understanding, appreciation and valuing of diversity of all types. This is being achieved in a variety of ways, including through:
  • reviews of existing organizational policies and procedures to identify systemic barriers;
  • modernization of complaint resolution processes, leading to greater accountability and transparency in addressing and responding to harassment and gender-based violence in the workplace;
  • investment in diverse and inclusive recruitment, mentorship and leadership training;
  • engagement with employees, partners, stakeholders and communities to inform policy and program development; and
  • enhancing the knowledge, self-awareness and skills of officials so they can better understand the importance of offering culturally-sensitive and unbiased services to the public.
Black CanadiansCriminal justice systemIndigenous peoplesPolice servicesRoyal Canadian Mounted Police
43rd Parliament223Government response tabledJanuary 25, 2021e-2734e-2734 (Public safety)AnnamiePaulElizabethMaySaanich—Gulf IslandsGreen PartyBCJuly 14, 2020, at 1:40 p.m. (EDT)August 13, 2020, at 1:40 p.m. (EDT)November 2, 2020January 25, 2021August 13, 2020Petition to the <Addressee type="1" affiliationId="" mp-riding-display="1">House of Commons</Addressee>Whereas:Black and Indigenous peoples in Canada are disproportionately subject to police use-of-force;The United Nations has expressed concern over the excessive use-of-force and killings by the police in Canada, especially in response to cases involving Black and Indigenous peoples;There is no nationwide collection of data on police use-of-force that disaggregates by race, colour, ethnic background, national origin and other identities;The failure of the Government of Canada to collect such data means that Canada lacks race-based data that could inform prevention and intervention strategies to protect the human rights of Black Canadians, Indigenous peoples and racialized people in Canada;A national database would allow the measurement of the extent of racial disparities in Canadian policing and identify trends in police use-of-force; andA national database would permit the evaluation of the success of existing and future anti-discrimination and anti-racism initiatives within police forces.We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada,, call upon the House of Commons to immediately establish a nationwide public database that collects data on police use-of-force, disaggregated by race, colour, ethnic background and other identities.
Response by the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency PreparednessSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Joël Lightbound, M.PPolicing based solely on a person’s race or ethnicity is abhorrent, unacceptable and unlawful. It is contrary to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Government of Canada remains firm that there is no place for racism or bias of any kind within police services in Canada.In any interaction with the public, employees within the RCMP are guided by Bias-Free Policing Policy, which is based on the principles of equality and non-discrimination. The RCMP does not practice carding, as it would be against the RCMP’s values and commitments to the public, as well as the Bias-Free Policing Policy. In addition, any collection of personal information by the RCMP must comply with the requirements set out in the Privacy Act and regulations. The RCMP constantly reviews and updates its policies, procedures and training to address identified gaps, and to ensure the RCMP remains a proactive and responsive police service.Building a Foundation for Change: Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy 2019–2022 is a $45 million investment guided by a vision of Canada where all Canadians benefit from equitable access to and participation in the economic, cultural, social and political spheres, which can be found at the following link: www.canada.ca/en/canadianheritage/campaigns/anti-racism-engagement/anti-racism-strategy.html. The Strategy sets a foundation for long-term action by supporting three guiding principles: Demonstrating Federal Leadership, Empowering Communities, and Building Awareness and Changing Attitudes. It builds on the work the Government of Canada is already doing to promote inclusion, combat systemic racism and support community-led initiatives. Ongoing funding of $4.5 billion — in addition to $8.5 billion since 2016 — has been invested in these areas.The Government of Canada’s Anti-Racism Secretariat has been engaging across government and with communities most affected by racism to strengthen partnerships, identify systemic barriers, advance coordination, and best practices.We are working with provincial, territorial, municipal and Indigenous leaders to respond to our real concerns about systemic racism and discrimination in how policing is delivered today. It is essential for the police to foster the trust of the communities they serve, and this can be achieved through our collective efforts to enhance accountability and transparency in policing, to advance de-escalation and reduce police intervention where possible, and to strengthen the integration of public safety and the delivery of health and social services. The Government of Canada is also working to fundamentally change the delivery of policing services in Indigenous communities. We will create a co-developed legislative framework for Indigenous policing — one that recognizes it as an essential service — and expand the First Nations Policing Program into interested communities. We are working closely with Indigenous leaders and organizations, provinces and territories, and police organizations to advance this priority. Our commitment is to provide Indigenous communities across Canada with access to culturally-appropriate police services that reflect the needs of the communities they serve.But we also know there is more work to do. In the speech from the throne, our government committed to:
  • Introducing legislation and making investments that take action to address the systemic inequities in all phases of the criminal justice system, from diversion to sentencing, from rehabilitation to records;
  • Moving forward on enhanced civilian oversight of our law enforcement agencies, including the RCMP;
  • Modernizing training for police and law enforcement, including addressing standards around  the use of police intervention equipment and techniques; and
  • Moving forward on RCMP reforms, with a shift toward community-led policing.
Efforts are also well underway to achieve the Minister’s mandate priority to provide Canadian law enforcement and security agencies with access to unconscious bias and cultural awareness training. An engagement strategy — which includes webinars and symposiums — has been developed to support meaningful research within the national security community, and Public Safety Canada is also enhancing and expanding training on implicit bias in national security, which complements other diversity training offered by the Government.We are committed to implementing these necessary reforms — and others — in collaboration with partners and stakeholders, to build a stronger, more inclusive and more resilient country, to advance reconciliation, to protect our democratic values and freedoms and to keep all communities safe and secure.
Black CanadiansIndigenous peoplesPolice servicesRacial equality
43rd Parliament223Government response tabledJanuary 25, 2021e-2764e-2764 (Social affairs and equality)VanessaFellsAndyFillmoreHalifaxLiberalNSJuly 29, 2020, at 9:04 a.m. (EDT)August 28, 2020, at 9:04 a.m. (EDT)November 2, 2020January 25, 2021August 28, 2020Petition to the <Addressee type="1" affiliationId="" mp-riding-display="1">House of Commons</Addressee>Whereas:Canada actively participated in the transatlantic slave trade and enslavement of African People;Systemic anti-Black racism exists in Canada today and is directly linked to enslavement;Black Canadian Lives Matter;The Province of Nova Scotia is the birthplace of Black history in Canada dating back to 1605, the origin of African enslavement in Canada;African Nova Scotians are a distinct people who continue to make significant contributions to all aspects of life in Canada;The United Nations declared 2015-2024 the International Decade for People of African Descent and called for nations to acknowledge and apologize for the suffering and evils of the enslavement of African People;The UN Working Group's recommendations during their trip to Canada included an apology for enslavement historical injustices and to legally recognize African Canadians as a distinct group;The Government of Canada has thus far failed to acknowledge and apologize for Canada’s role in the enslavement of African People and their descendants; andThe failure of the Senate to pass Bill S-255 and officially recognize August 1 as Emancipation Day to commemorate the abolition of slavery.We, the undersigned, African Canadians, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the House of Commons to pass a resolution for the Government of Canada to apologize for Canada’s role in the enslavement of African People and their descendants, publicly acknowledge Black Canadians as a distinct people, recognize August 1 annually as Emancipation Day and renew Canada’s commitment to addressing the generational effects of enslavement, segregation and systemic anti-Black racism.
Response by the Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): ADAM VAN KOEVERDENThe 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 apologize for Canada’s role in the enslavement of African People and their descendants, publicly acknowledge Black Canadians as a distinct people, recognize August 1 annually as Emancipation Day and renew Canada’s commitment to addressing the generational effects of enslavement, segregation and systemic anti-Black racism.Black history is Canadian history.The Government of Canada recognizes the enslavement of African people in Canada and the racism, prejudice, inequalities, and systemic barriers that Canadians of African descent continue to face. The Government also recognizes the importance of sharing the history of Black Canadians, promoting Black cultural heritage, and continuing to highlight the significant contributions Black Canadians have made and continue to make to the settlement, growth, and development of Canada.In December 1995, following a motion from the Honourable Jean Augustine, the House of Commons officially recognized February as Black History Month in Canada. In 1996, the first Black History Month was celebrated and the Government of Canada’ public education and promotional activities related to Canadians of African descent has continued, happening year round and not being limited to just February. For example, in 2017, in the context of Canada 150 and Emancipation Day celebrations, the Department of Canadian Heritage worked with organisations that serve Black communities in Ontario and Nova Scotia to support their hosting of Canadian Heritage's "On the Road North" travelling exhibit.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). The theme of the decade is “People of African descent: recognition, justice and development.” On July 17, 2019, the Government of Canada released Building a Foundation of Change: Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy (2019-2022), which included the creation of a new Anti-Racism Action Program and the creation of an Anti-Racism Secretariat. The Secretariat is committed to advancing human rights by collaborating with equity seeking groups, all orders of government, and all sectors of society in dismantling systemic racism in Canada. It is a one-stop shop for anti-racism resources and tools. This work also involves helping government departments identify systemic barriers and gaps in initiatives, implement new responsive efforts, and track impacts with the aim of better community outcomes.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, The Enslavement of African People in Canada (c. 1629–1834), recognizes the national historic significance of the over 4,000 enslaved people of African descent in the British and French colonies that later became Quebec, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick, as well as the exploitation, physical, sexual, and psychological violence they were subjected to.On September 9, 2020, the Prime Minister announced the launch of Canada’s first-ever Black Entrepreneurship Program, which will help thousands of Black business owners recover from the COVID-19 crisis and help build back better.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.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 continue to face. We will continue to work with community to build back better and consciously more inclusive.  
Black CanadiansEmancipation DayOfficial apologySlavery
43rd Parliament223Government response tabledNovember 23, 2020e-2714e-2714 (Public safety)BethanyDraderMatthewGreenHamilton CentreNDPONJuly 7, 2020, at 9:47 a.m. (EDT)October 5, 2020, at 9:47 a.m. (EDT)October 9, 2020November 23, 2020October 6, 2020Petition to the <Addressee type="1" affiliationId="" mp-riding-display="1">House of Commons</Addressee>Whereas:Black and Indigenous people are more likely to experience police brutality in Canada;Black and Indigenous people are overrepresented in the rate of incarceration relative to their population numbers in Canada;The annual Royal Mounted Canadian Police (RCMP) budget is in excess of $5 billion;Adequately trained community services can fill the roles currently fulfilled by the RCMP, such as responding to mental health crises, in a safe and violence-free method;Social factors such as homelessness, poverty, and lack of access to resources often are the root causes of criminality, yet are chronically underfunded;Police involvement leads to substantially greater negative outcomes for Black, Indigenous, and racialized communities, such as increased risk for the use of violence and potential for criminalization;Recent instances of Black and Indigenous death in Canada have been as a result of police involvement in Welfare Checks; and A way to reduce the sheer number of deaths is to defund the police, remove this activity as some that needs police involvement, and redistribute the funding to other places of effective mental health support.We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the House of Commons to divest from the RCMP and redirect funding towards social services to replace policing functions in recognition of the long history of violence against Black and Indigenous communities and the inefficacy of policing.
Response by the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency PreparednessSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Joël Lightbound, M.PFirst-and-foremost, policing based solely on a person’s race or ethnicity is abhorrent, unacceptable and unlawful. It is contrary to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and our government remains firm: there is no place for racism or bias of any kind within police forces in Canada.All police services, including the RCMP, are committed to ensuring that the people that they are sworn to serve and protect are treated with dignity and with respect. The majority of our police officers perform their duties with integrity, professionalism and respect. When misconduct does occur, we cannot defend the indefensible. The act must be quickly investigated and officers held accountable for their actions.Canadians can and deserve to have both support and investments in essential services, such as mental health supports, as well as culturally-competent policing. We are working to create the conditions for everyone who works within these systems to take the necessary steps to produce more equitable outcomes and address the unacceptable overrepresentation of Indigenous and Black Canadians in our judicial system.We are working with provincial, territorial, municipal and Indigenous leaders to respond to our real concerns about systemic racism and discrimination in how policing is delivered today. It is essential for the police to maintain the trust of the communities they serve, and this can be achieved through our collective efforts to enhance accountability and transparency in policing, to advance de-escalation and reduce the use of force and to strengthen the integration of public safety and the delivery of health and social services.As outlined in the Speech From the Throne, we will
  • Move forward on enhanced civilian oversight of our law enforcement agencies, including the RCMP;
  • Modernize training for police and law enforcement, including addressing standards around de-escalation for people in crisis;
  • Move forward on RCMP reforms, with a commitment to community-led policing; and
  • Accelerate work to co-develop a legislative framework for First Nations policing as an essential service.
Additionally, we will introduce legislation and make investments that take action to address the systemic inequities in all phases of the criminal justice system, from diversion to sentencing, from rehabilitation to records.The RCMP is also working with Statistics Canada and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police to collect and publish police-reported crime statistics on Indigenous and racialized groups — including on victims and accused persons and the use of force — to inform the creation of effective and evidence-based policies and practices.The Government of Canada is also acting to eliminate systemic racism and discrimination in the broader criminal justice system. Each of the other agencies under the Public Safety Portfolio — the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, the Canada Border Services Agency, Correctional Services Canada and the Parole Board of Canada — are working hard to integrate strategies and approaches to identify and reverse systemic barriers and broaden understanding, appreciation and valuing of diversity of all types. This is being achieved in a variety of ways, including through:
  • reviews of existing organizational policies and procedures to identify systemic barriers;
  • modernization of complaint resolution processes, leading to greater accountability and transparency in addressing and responding to harassment and gender-based violence in the workplace;
  • investment in diverse and inclusive recruitment, mentorship and leadership training;
  • engagement with employees, partners, stakeholders and communities to inform policy and program development; and
  • enhancing the knowledge, self-awareness and skills of officials so they can better understand the importance of offering culturally-sensitive and unbiased services to the public.
Black CanadiansIndigenous peoplesPolice servicesRoyal Canadian Mounted Police
43rd Parliament223Government response tabledNovember 18, 2020e-2759e-2759 (Holidays and observances)NgoziPaulPaulManlyNanaimo—LadysmithGreen PartyBCJuly 23, 2020, at 10:58 a.m. (EDT)August 22, 2020, at 10:58 a.m. (EDT)October 5, 2020November 18, 2020August 24, 2020Petition to the <Addressee type="1" affiliationId="" mp-riding-display="1">Government of Canada</Addressee>Whereas:People of African descent have lived in Canada since the beginning of the transatlantic slave trade;Slavery of trafficked Africans was introduced by colonists into the territories of what came to be known as Canada in the 1600s;The practice of slavery, also inflicted on Indigenous Peoples, continued until it was abolished in the British Empire on August 1, 1834;Canada’s history of enslavement, racial segregation and marginalization has had a devastating impact on people of African descent;The existence of systemic anti-Black racism in education, housing, employment, health, criminal justice, politics and other areas can be directly traced to the history of slavery in Canada;Canada has neither recognized nor educated the public adequately about the historical facts related to slavery and the anti-Black racism it has produced;Despite this, Black Canadians have made outstanding contributions to Canada in every field, which is all the more remarkable given the legacy of slavery;It is necessary to recognize the history of Black Canadians in order to build a more just society, free from discrimination;The United Nations recommended the Government of Canada take steps to recognize the history of enslavement and the contributions of Black Canadians; andThe International Decade for People of African Descent provides an opportunity to permanently acknowledge the legacy of slavery and the achievements of Black Canadians.We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to proclaim August 1 as Emancipation Day, and to celebrate it on that day each year.
Response by the Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): ADAM VAN KOEVERDENThe Government would like to thank the petitioners for their request that the House of Commons proclaim August 1st as Emancipation Day, and to celebrate it on that day each year.Black history is Canadian history.The Government of Canada recognizes the enslavement of African people in Canada and the racism, prejudice, inequalities, and systemic barriers that Canadians of African descent continue to face. The Government also recognizes the importance of sharing the history of Black Canadians, promoting Black cultural heritage, and continuing to highlight the significant contributions Black Canadians have made to the settlement, growth, and development of CanadaIn December 1995, following a motion from the Honourable Jean Augustine, the House of Commons officially recognized February as Black History Month in Canada. In 1996, the first Black History Month was celebrated and the Government of Canada’ public education and promotional activities related to Canadians of African descent has continued, happening year round and not being limited to just February. For example, in 2017, in the context of Canada 150 and Emancipation Day celebrations, the Department of Canadian Heritage worked with the organizations that serve Black communities in Ontario and Nova Scotia to support their hosting of Canadian Heritage's "On the Road North" travelling exhibit.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). The theme of the decade is “People of African descent: recognition, justice and development”. On July 17, 2019, the Government of Canada released Building A Foundation of Change: Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy (2019-2022), which included the creation of a new Anti-Racism Action Program and the creation of an Anti-Racism Secretariat. The Secretariat is committed to advancing human rights by collaborating with equity seeking groups, all orders of government, and all sectors of society in dismantling systemic racism in Canada. It is a one-stop shop for anti-racism resources and tools. This work also involves helping government departments identify systemic barriers and gaps in initiatives, implement new responsive efforts, and track impacts with the aim of better community outcomes.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, The Enslavement of African People in Canada (c. 1629–1834), recognizes the national historic significance of the over 4,000 enslaved people of African descent in the British and French colonies that later became Quebec, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick, as well as the exploitation, physical, sexual, and psychological violence they were subjected to.On September 9, 2020, the Prime Minister announced the launch Canada’s first-ever Black Entrepreneurship Program, which will help thousands of Black business owners recover from the COVID-19 crisis and help build back better.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.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 continue to face. We will continue to work with community to build back better and consciously more inclusive.
Black CanadiansEmancipation DaySlavery