TORONTO, ON – The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) joins other members of the National Employment Equity Council (NEC) in calling on the Government of Canada to strengthen the newly established Advisory Council on Rights, Equality and Inclusion (the Council) by ensuring meaningful Black representation and explicitly recognizing anti-Black racism within its mandate.
The CCLA shares the concerns expressed that the Council’s announced membership does not expressly include any representation from Black faith-based organizations or communities despite the essential role Black Canadians have played in advancing equality, human rights, social justice, and inclusion in Canada.
The CCLA also echoes the concerns that although the Council has been tasked with advising government on rights, equality, inclusion, racism, and hate, anti-Black racism is not explicitly identified within its announced mandate. Anti-Black racism is pervasive across legal, political, economic and social institutions across Canada. It is imperative that the Advisory Council on Rights, Equality and Inclusion includes a specific mandate to address anti-Black racism.
“The new Advisory Council is set up to fail if it begins by excluding Black representation and neglects to explicitly recognize anti-Black racism within its mandate,” said Howard Sapers, Executive Director of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. “Meaningful progress on equity and inclusion requires that those with lived experience of anti-Black racism have a seat at the table and a voice in shaping solutions.”
The CCLA urges the Government of Canada to include Black leadership on the Council and explicitly recognize anti-Black racism within the Council’s mandate.
The CCLA also urges the Government of Canada to implement the recommendations of the Employment Equity Act Review and ensure that federal equality and inclusion initiatives reflect the lived experiences of Black Canadians.
About the Canadian Civil Liberties Association
The CCLA is an independent, non-profit organization with supporters from across the country. Founded in 1964, the CCLA is a national human rights organization committed to defending the rights, dignity, safety, and freedoms of all people in Canada.
Media Contact for Canadian Civil Liberties Association:
media@ccla.org
Media Contact for National Employment Equity Council:
info@nec-cne.ca
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