British Columbia opens consultation on anti-racism legislation as groups praise data collection

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VANCOUVER The B.C. government is asking residents for their views on anti-racism bill as members of marginalized communities say collecting data will help groups thrive.

VANCOUVER The B.C. government is asking residents for their views on anti-racism bill as members of marginalized communities say collecting data will help groups thrive.

Rachna Singh, Parliamentary Secretary for Anti-Racism Initiatives, says public comments will help better identify systemic racism in existing government programs.

Residents of British Columbia can share their thoughts through an online government portal until November 30.

Singh says systemic racism has led to mistrust of government programs by marginalized groups.

Dr. June Francis, assistant professor at Simon Fraser University, says the lack of data on systemic racism has helped society ignore the issues faced by marginalized and racialized people.

She adds that the lack of data has also kept these groups from “flourishing” and becoming more successful.

“Disaggregated and anti-racist data is essential to ensure that Indigenous and racialized groups in British Columbia have access to (…) housing, employment, education, policing and other areas, ”Francis said.

“For too long we have been blind, or I wonder if we are just blinding ourselves, having no data on systemic racism and institutional racism.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on September 9, 2021.

The Canadian Press

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