Question Period Note: Funding programs available for anti-racism and multiculturalism

• Since 2019 the Government of Canada has committed close to $100 million through Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy, including $70 million to support community organizations across Canada addressing issues of anti-racism and multiculturalism.

• Through various investments since 2019, our government has supported:
o $35 million in 175 projects, to address barriers to employment, justice, and social participation among Indigenous peoples, racialized communities, and religious minorities across Canada;
o $34.5 million in 325 community-based initiatives; and
o $17.8 million in over 820 community events across the country.

• Budget 2022 proposes to provide $85 million over four years, starting in 2022-2023, to support the work underway to launch a new Anti-Racism Strategy and a National Action Plan on Combatting Hate. This funding will include support for community projects that ensure that Black and racialized Canadians, and religious minorities have access to resources that support their full participation in the Canadian economy, while also raising awareness of issues related to racism and hate in Canada.

• The Department of Canadian Heritage provides funding for anti-racism initiatives with the objectives to:
o support communities in confronting racism and discrimination, promoting intercultural and interfaith understanding and fostering equitable opportunities to participate fully in Canadian society
o promote and engage in discussions on multiculturalism, diversity, racism and religious discrimination at the domestic and international levels
o strengthen research and evidence to build understanding of the disparities and challenges faced by racialized and religious minority communities, and Indigenous Peoples.

• Since 2019, through our programs, we have supported:
o over 820 events for a total investment of over $17.8 million to support community-based events and activities;
o 325 initiatives for a total investment of $34.5 million to support community-based initiatives; and
o 175 projects for a total investment of $35 million to systemic racism.

• In addition, it is anticipated that through the most recent call for proposals, approximately 250 initiatives with a total budget of $34.5 million over three years will go to community organizations to support capacity-building initiatives and fund multi-year projects that will address racism and discrimination. Since January 2022, close to $10 million to support almost 100 projects has been approved.

• The amounts listed in the Main Estimates for 2022-2023 in grants and contributions ($10.2 million in grants for CSMARI; $18.3 million in contributions for CSMARI; and $5.1 million in contributions for ARAP) reflect a combination of the Multiculturalism & Anti-Racism Initiatives Branch’s reference levels, plus amounts received to support the implementation of Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy. The full ARAP budget has been approved and allocated, and the CSMARI Budget will be fully allocated for 2022-2023.

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