441-02393 (Social affairs and equality)

The Government is committed to supporting Black communities across the country through concrete measures that recognize the heritage, contribution of and unique challenges experienced by People of African Descent, and which address systemic barriers and anti-Black racism in all its forms to deliver positive outcomes for Black communities in Canada.

SUPPORTING BLACK COMMUNITIES AND ANTI-RACISM

Since 2018, our government has committed over half a billion dollars to supporting Black communities in addressing impacts of anti-Black racism within key sectors, such as employment, social participation, and justice:

• Through the Supporting Black Canadians Initiative, the Government has invested over $200 million in more than 2,300 projects to grow charities and non-profit organizations, for Black Canadians by Black Canadians.
• Building a Foundation for Change: Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy 2019-2022, received a total investment of $95 million. This included $45 million from Budget 2019 and $50 million from the 2020 Fall Economic Statement.
• Results from these investments have been highlighted in Plans and reports - Canadian Heritage - Canada.ca. For example, as part of the Government’s efforts to tackling racial discrimination, an Anti-Racism Framework was piloted in partnership with 16 departments, central agencies, and anti-racism units in federal institutions. It is an analytical framework that supports federal institutions in applying an anti-racism lens to their initiatives. Overall, the Framework seeks to strengthen institutional capacity to remove systemic barriers, identify gaps, and design effective policies, programs, services, and legislation that benefit all people in Canada.
• The 2020 Fall Economic Statement committed $93 million for the Black Entrepreneurship Program, a public-private investment of up to $221 million over four years to support Black Canadian business owners and entrepreneurs grow their businesses and ensure sustainable success.  Since its launch in 2021, the program has helped more than 9,000 Black business owners and entrepreneurs get mentorship, business training and financing to help their businesses grow and succeed.
• In Budget 2021, the Government committed $200 million to establish the Black-led Philanthropic Endowment Fund. The Fund is a long-term source of funding for charities and non-profit organizations in Canada that are Black-led, Black-focused and Black-serving.
• In 2022, the Government established the Supporting Black Communities External Reference Group (ERG). The ERG is an advisory council that reflects the lived experiences and priorities of Black populations across Canada. The ERG's role includes providing advice to the Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities; sharing knowledge and expertise on anti-Black racism issues in Canada; supporting work by the Government of Canada on issues related to United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent; and providing advice on new issues affecting Black Canadians and communities.

ANTI-RACISM

Since 2018-19, investing over $260 million, for Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy, Canada’s Action Plan on Combatting Hate, and the Canada Race Relations Foundation to fight racism and hate and ensure that our society continues to be strengthened by Canada’s remarkable diversity.

Part of this funding was delivered through the Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program (MARP). Through community investments, MARP seeks to advance anti-racism, ensure equitable opportunities for equity-deserving populations, promote dialogue on multiculturalism, and build understanding of the disparities faced by these populations.

Since 2019-20, the Program has supported 134 Black-led or Black-focused initiatives for a total of approximately $16.7M in funding. The Government of Canada seeks to build equitable and resilient communities by decreasing inequities for racialized and religious minority communities in Canada, increase their sense of belonging to Canada, and improve the positive perception of diversity of people in Canada.

The Program has supported 285 Black History Month (BHM) events since 2015, and 134 Black-focused and Black-supporting initiatives since 2019 (comprised of 37 anti-racism and anti-online hate projects funded under Community Support, Multiculturalism, and Anti-Racism Initiatives (CSMARI) and Anti-Racism Action Program (ARAP) [These two programs were combined in 2023. The program is now known as the Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program], 40 community capacity building projects, a national anti-Black racism education and awareness campaign, and 56 Black Canadian youth initiatives).

JUSTICE

The Government of Canada, in consultation with Black communities and the provinces and territories, is developing Canada’s Black Justice Strategy.

Canada’s Black Justice Strategy will identify concrete ways to address the anti-Black racism and systemic discrimination that has led to the overrepresentation of Black people in the criminal justice system, including as victims of crime. This overrepresentation is part of the legacy of Canada’s history of colonization, slavery, racial segregation, and restrictive immigration practices, that were rooted in anti-Black racism.

The Government of Canada established an external Steering Group of nine experts and leaders from Black communities to provide advice on the development of the Strategy. The Government of Canada will develop a response to the Report and recommendations of the external Steering Group to address anti-Black racism and systemic discrimination that has led to the overrepresentation of Black people in the criminal justice system, including as victims of crime.

MENTAL HEALTH

Black Canadians have historically faced disproportionate social and systemic challenges, including experiences of racism and discrimination, socioeconomic inequality, a lack of access to culturally appropriate services, and stigma related to accessing mental health care.

To close these gaps, the Mental Health of Black Canadians Fund supports community-based and culturally focused initiatives that aim to increase health equity and address the underlying determinants of mental health, including anti-Black racism.

Budget 2024 proposes to provide $4 million over two years, starting in 2024-25, for the Public Health Agency of Canada to continue supporting initiatives through the Mental Health of Black Canadians Fund that aim to increase health equity and address mental health and its determinants for Black Canadians.

RECOGNITION

On March 24, 2021, the House of Commons voted unanimously to designate August 1^st as Emancipation Day in Canada.  It marks the day in 1834 that the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 came into effect across the British Empire.

On February 7, 2024, the Prime Minister announced an extension - until 2028 - of the federal government’s effort to promote equality and empower Black Canadians, beyond the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent, which officially ends this year. Using the frameworks of the UN Decade, this extension will support Black Canadians and strengthen their leadership in business, social justice, and community.