Question Period Note: Anti-Black Racism

• As part of our commitment to advancing the International Decade for People of African Descent, the Government recognizes that systemic anti-Black racism is an unacceptable reality in Canadian society.
• Since 2018, our Government has committed over half a
billion dollars to supporting Black communities and addressing discrimination, including Budget 2021 investment of $200 million to a new Black-led Philanthropic Endowment Fund to support and empower Black-led organizations serving their communities.
• In addition, Budget 2021 invested $125 million in the Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative, and Budget 2022 allocated further funding of $50 million.
• In the Speech from the Throne, PM Trudeau reaffirmed that fighting systemic racism will remain a key priority. With a renewed
Anti-Racism Strategy, including a strengthened Federal Anti-Racism Secretariat, we will continue to combat anti-Black racism and hate in Canada.

• Black Canadians remain one of the groups most affected by systemic racism and unconscious bias. Black Canadians are far more likely than non-racialized Canadians to be unemployed (12.5 % compared to 7.3 % in 2016); have a significantly lower median income than non-racialized Canadians across all generations ($35 580 compared to $48 966 in 2016); are more likely to be targeted by hate crimes than any other racial or ethnic group (38 % of all hate crimes targeting race or ethnicity in 2019); and, despite being 3.5 % of the Canadian population, represent 7% of federal offenders.
• Budget 2018 provided $9 million over three years to enhance local and community support for Black Canadian youth. Canadian Heritage funded 56 proposals for a total of $7.75 million, with an additional $1.57 million allocated for outreach, engagement, research projects, and performance measurement.
• Since 2018, our Government has committed over a billion dollars specifically to support Black communities in the struggle against systemic anti-Black racism, whether in the financial sector, the justice system, in the health system, or in the not-for-profit sector.
• Budget 2019 committed $25 million for the Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative, to build capacity within Black communities.
• Through the 2020 Fall Economic Statement the federal government committed $93 million for the Black Entrepreneurship Program, as a partnership between Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, Black-led business organizations, and financial institutions. With a public-private investment of up to $221 million over four years, it is helping Black Canadian business owners and entrepreneurs grow their businesses and succeed now and into the future.
• In Budget 2021, the federal government committed $200 million to establish a Black-led philanthropic endowment fund, and a $100 million top-up to the Supporting Black Communities Initiative.
• Budget 2022 allocated further funding of $50 million over two years to the Supporting Black Communities Initiative.
• 2021 marked the 25th anniversary since the federal declaration of Black History Month took effect.
• 2022 also marks the seventh year of the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent. On January 30, 2018, the Government of Canada officially recognized the International Decade (2015-2024) as an opportunity to highlight and celebrate the important contributions people of African descent have made to Canadian society. It also acknowledged the continuing need to understand and eliminate barriers to Black Canadians experiencing full and equal participation across society.
• In the December 2021 mandate letter for Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, Minister Hussen was tasked with the following initiatives to support Black communities in Canada:
o working across the government to continue building on the spirit of the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent, by developing policies and projects that tackle discrimination and unconscious bias in public and private institutions, including anti-Black racism;
o implementing the Black-led Philanthropic Endowment Fund promptly to support Black-led and Black-serving community organizations;
o supporting the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada in developing a Black Canadians Justice Strategy, in collaboration with provinces, territories and Black communities in Canada; and
o supporting the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development through the continued implementation of the Support Black Canadian Communities Initiative to enhance the capacity and effectiveness of Black-led and Black-serving organizations.

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