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

Funding programs available for anti-racism and multiculturalism

Budget 2024 proposes $25 million over five years, starting in 2024-25, to the Department of Canadian Heritage to support Anti-Hate programming and promoting intercultural ties and community-based activities including initiatives that support convening the community following hate incidents. In addition, a new program dedicated to Holocaust Remembrance with an investment of $5 million over five years and $2 million ongoing is being developed by the department.

To strengthen federal leadership against racism and discrimination, our Government unveiled on June 8, Changing Systems, Transforming Lives: Canada's Anti-Racism Strategy 2024–2028.

Canada’s new Anti-Racism Strategy is a $110.4 million investment aimed at driving action in employment, justice and law enforcement, housing, healthcare and immigration systems. It encompasses over 70 federal initiatives designed to ensure federal policies, programs and services reflect the Canada it serves, while also working in partnership with communities by investing over $70 million in local initiatives across the country.

To create a more cohesive and efficient grants and contribution program, the terms and conditions related to the Community Support, Multiculturalism, and Anti-Racism Initiatives Program (CSMARI) and Anti-Racism Action Program (ARAP) components were consolidated into a single set of terms and conditions under the Multiculturalism and Anti-racism Program (MARP).

In addition, the objectives of the Program were strengthened as follows:

advance anti-racism; foster ethnocultural diversity and inclusion; promote intercultural and interfaith understanding;

provide equitable opportunities for equity-deserving populations and community organizations to participate fully in all aspects of Canadian society;

promote dialogue on multiculturalism, anti-racism, racial equity, diversity, and inclusion to advance institutional and systemic change so that Canada becomes a more inclusive society, free from racism and hate-motivated actions; and

support research and evidence to build understanding of the disparities and challenges faced by equity-deserving populations.

The Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program (MARP) continues to deliver it mandate through three funding components: Events, Projects and Organizational Capacity Building (OCB).

The Organizational Capacity Building component launched a call for proposals on December 11, 2023, and eligible organizations had until February 22, 2024, to apply for funding; and

The Events component is on a continuous intake.

Canada’s new Anti-Racism Strategy (2024-28) also builds on the endorsement of a second United Nations (UN) International Decade for People of African Descent, and historic investments totaling up to $872 million within communities through the Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative, the Black-led Philanthropic Endowment Fund and other initiatives focused on Black communities.

Canada’s first Anti-Racism Strategy (2019-22) was designed to address systemic racism and discrimination with a $95 million investment, including $70 million in Grants and Contributions to the Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program. This funding supported community projects that ensure that Black, Indigenous, racialized and religious minority communities have access to resources that support their full participation in Canadian society and the economy, while also raising awareness of issues related to racism and hate in Canada.

Between 2018-2019 and 2023-2024, through ARAP and CSMARI, we have supported:

1863 CSMARI events for a total investment of over $42.2 million to support community-based events and activities;

357 CSMARI Projects for a total investment of $66 million; and

174 ARAP projects for a total investment of $35.1 million to address systemic racism and/or online hate.

The Department has implemented several measures to strengthen the Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program to ensure that organizations and individuals that espouse racist, antisemitic and / or other forms of hateful content will not be eligible to receive funding.

Budget 2024 proposes $25 million over five years, starting in 2024-25, to the Department of Canadian Heritage to support Anti-Hate programming and promoting intercultural ties and community-based activities including initiatives that support healing following hate incidents.

A new program dedicated to Holocaust remembrance valued at $5 million over five years and $2 million ongoing is also being developed by the department.

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