Thank you for your understanding, colleagues.

Black people in America have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic compared to the general population.

Whether we are talking about the rate of infection, mortality or vaccine coverage, disparities remain. When we compare the health capacity of certain countries, there is a clear gap. Canada’s opposition to the waiver on COVID-19 vaccine patents and its vote against the United Nation’s resolution for a global call for concrete action to eliminate racism last December are raising a lot of questions. It is even more surprising in the post-Floyd era.

A year ago today, police officer Derek Chauvin killed a Black family man by holding his knee on his neck and suffocating him. That image will remain indelibly imprinted in the collective memory, as will Joyce Echaquan’s cries for help, which are still ringing in our ears.

What is more, despite motions adopted by the Quebec National Assembly and the House of Commons, the Minister of Immigration has still not sorted out the file of Mamadi Camara, who was unjustly imprisoned.

Stories of injustice perpetrated against non-White people continue to abound in Canada, but we are beginning to see a desire for change that gives us hope we may one day shake off the yoke of chauvinism. For example, the other place voted unanimously in favour of a motion to designate August 1 as our national Emancipation Day to mark the end of slavery. This is an opportunity for us to reflect on what we have achieved since 1834 and on how far we have yet to go to achieve true equality.

The Government of Canada’s 2021 budget includes measures to improve representation of certain segments of our population in the public service. Politicians of all stripes are taking an active interest in equity and inclusion issues and joining forces to work on those issues as members of the Parliamentary Black Caucus.

Honourable colleagues, I urge you to get informed, to share and to support the demands of Indigenous and African-Canadian senators’ working groups to advance equality in our country. That is how we will build a more just and equitable world. Thank you.