Question Period Note: CAPACITY BUILDING IN BLACK CANADIAN COMMUNITIES

New investment of $25M over five years to build capacity in Black Canadian communities

• Diversity and inclusion are cornerstones of Canadian identity, a source of social and economic strength, and something that all Canadians can be proud of.

• Taking its cue from Canadians, the Government is committed to fostering and promoting a Canada where every person is able to fully and equally participate in our country’s economic, cultural, social and political life.

• The Government will continue to listen to Canadians, seeking ways to improve engagement with the federal government, foster greater public awareness of systemic racism and discrimination, and looking for opportunities to strengthen support for underrepresented communities.

• In recognition of the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent, the supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative will invest $ 25M over five years to build organizational capacity and fund capital projects in Canada’s diverse black communities.

• In January 2018, the Prime Minister announced that Canada officially recognized the UN International Decade for People of African Descent spanning from 2015 to 2024.

• In recognition of the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent, Budget 2019 included $25 million over five years starting in 2019-20, for projects and capital assistance to celebrate, share knowledge and build capacity in our vibrant Black Canadian communities.

• In July 2019, an engagement session was held by ESDC with almost 40 stakeholder organizations representing a diverse range of Black communities and interests from across Canada.

• In August 2019, the first two elements of the Initiative were announced:

o The creation of a Canadian Institute for People of African Descent dedicated to looking at issues that affect Black communities. This national institute could play a comprehensive role in research, knowledge development and dissemination, on a wide range of issues of interest to Black Canadians; and
o The use of the intermediary approach to fund projects to build the capacity of not-for-profit organizations serving Black communities across Canada.

• ESDC will work with Black communities to fund selected high capacity organizations who would hold an open and transparent funding process to which grassroots organizations across Canada could apply for funding for capacity building projects in their communities.

None