Advocates push federal equity council to explicitly address anti-Black racism
Days after retired judge Corrine Sparks became the first Black member of the advisory council, civil rights groups say a clear mandate on anti-Black racism is still needed.
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Civil rights advocates are pressing the federal government's newly formed Advisory Council on Rights, Equality and Inclusion to explicitly include anti-Black racism in its mandate, even after the appointment of retired judge Corrine Sparks as the council's first Black member this week.
Sparks, who became the first Black woman to serve as a judge in Canada and is a descendant of early Black settlers in Nova Scotia, joins two new appointees announced alongside her. But advocates say naming anti-Black racism as a specific priority is essential for the council's work.
"We know we have to name anti-Black racism because that is really the daily lives of people like myself and others in Canadian society, and so the work of the council must include that," said Jean Augustine, the first Black woman elected to the House of Commons and a community advocate.
Nicholas Marcus Thompson, co-chair of the National Employment Equity Council, called Sparks' appointment welcomed but incomplete. "We've called for it to be stated from the get-go to ensure that the council has a clear direction on what the government of Canada wants to address, particularly with the long history of anti-Black racism in Canada," Thompson said.
Howard Sapers, executive director of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, raised concerns about both the "structure" and "intent" of the council. He pointed to the cancellation of two previous special envoys on combatting Islamophobia and anti-Semitism, noting the new council will report to the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture rather than Parliament, potentially limiting its independence to speak publicly about findings.
Heritage Minister Marc Miller's office responded that "the Advisory Council has a clear mandate: to bring Canadians together and to guide the government's efforts to combat racism and hate in all its forms," including addressing "the distinct and persistent challenges posed by anti-Black racism in our communities and institutions."
