QUESTION PERIOD — Canadian Heritage
Anti-Racism Secretariat
March 22, 2022
This question is for the Government Representative in the Senate. Senator Gold, yesterday was the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
The Prime Minister released a statement affirming the government’s commitment to creating a country that offers equal opportunity. He highlighted that the government recognized the United Nations’ International Decade for People of African Descent or UNDPAD. In 2019, the government announced the launch of an initiative called Building a Foundation for Change: Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy for 2019–2022. We are now at the end of this time frame that was set out to build a foundation for long-term action, and only have two years left of UNDPAD.
Senator Gold, what are the next steps for the Anti-Racism Secretariat?
Thank you, senator, for the question. Building a Foundation for Change: Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy for 2019–2022 will invest $4.6 million to establish a new anti-racism secretariat that will lead a whole-of-government approach in addressing racism. I’m advised that that secretariat will also work with the government to address the effects of discrimination, including leading federal institutions to identify gaps, to assist in developing new initiatives and to consider the impacts of new and existing policies, services and programs on communities. The secretariat will publicly report on outcomes in addressing racism and discrimination, and contribute to work being undertaken by the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat towards a more diverse and inclusive public service. The government remains committed to working with provinces and territories and to continue to engage in work with non-government partners, Indigenous peoples and other communities to identify and develop further areas for action.
Senator Gold, I have heard from many African-Nova Scotian community members that funds from the Black Entrepreneurship Program have been challenging to access. What funds have been released to date, and what is the breakdown by province of organizations that have received this funding?
Thank you for the supplementary question. To date, I’m advised that $8,126,726 has been distributed and the average loan size is $88,302. As for the breakdown of organizations by province that have received money, I will make inquiries with the government and report back to this chamber.
