Honourable senators, February is Black History Month.

As we look back to appreciate the countless contributions of Black Canadians in shaping our country, February is also a critical time for us to remember the social injustices they continue to face, and to examine the state of equity in Canada and the work that lies ahead to achieve fairness and address inequality.

Equality is all about providing equal rights and equal opportunities to all. Equity, however, is really what we should all be aspiring to. It is about recognizing that we all have different circumstances and realities, and it is about offering opportunities to reach equal outcomes.

Among those working to attain this objective is the BlackNorth Initiative. Launched in 2020 under the leadership of Wes Hall, the BlackNorth Initiative has been providing support and guidance to members of the Black community across Canada with much success and high praise.

In just three short years, BlackNorth has already made massive strides for the Black community. Some of its achievements include offering mentorship to Black talent and engaging with more than 400 Black-led businesses across Canada; helping Black families in the Greater Toronto Area, or GTA, become homeowners through its Homeownership Bridge Program; sharing more than 1,700 job opportunities through its BlackNorth Connect Program; raising funds to support African refugees in the Toronto area; and offering bursaries and scholarships to bright young students.

BlackNorth recently launched its Black Entrepreneurship Growth and Innovation Network — a digital support program for entrepreneurs that offers educational services and mentorship programs to grow and expand their business.

What initially started in Toronto has now expanded to Alberta with its first new chapter in 2023. Chapters in Nova Scotia and Quebec will soon be launched, further expanding BlackNorth’s footprint across the country.

With a board of directors that includes business executives, doctors, academics, a former Governor General and our former colleague the Honourable Don Oliver, the BlackNorth Initiative is destined for much greater success, expansion and impact in the coming years. It is an organization with its eyes set on empowering as many Black Canadians as possible in achieving their goals, and making sure corporate Canada becomes more diverse and inclusive.

Honourable senators, please join me in acknowledging the outstanding work of the BlackNorth Initiative and its commitment to supporting Canada’s more than 1.5 million Black Canadians. It is important that we support and honour such great organizations as they seek to achieve greater equality, fairness and justice.

Thank you. Meegwetch.