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“Colour of Poverty - Colour of Change (COP-COC) is pleased that the 2021 Federal Budget contains some solid first steps towards building a more inclusive Canada. But we are disappointed it falls short of demonstrating a consistent and coherent commitment to addressing systemic racism.
”Since 2007, COP-COC has been pushing all orders of government to collect disaggregated race-based data. We are encouraged that Budget 2021 proposes to provide $172 million over five years to Statistics Canada to implement a Disaggregated Data Action Plan that will help fill data and knowledge gaps.
“COP-COC also welcomes the proposed $300 million in funding supports for Black communities - as a down payment on reparations - for new initiatives for Black entrepreneurs and a Black-led philanthropic fund to support Black youth and social purpose organizations.
”Equally welcome is the move forward on a national childcare program, as well as investments for refugee youth wrap-around employment supports.
“Meanwhile, COP-COC is deeply concerned that the Budget does not promise any funding to build an expanded, effectively resourced and enforced federal employment equity regime – or for community organizations directly engaged in anti-racism work, such as those fighting against the rising tide of anti-Asian racism. Nor does it call for any Employment Equity conditions to be attached to the $100+ billion more in stimulus funding – on top of all the earlier billions - in order to ensure that the 1 million new jobs that the Budget proposes to create will in fact be fairly and equitably accessible for all under-represented groups.
”We appreciate the increased inspection of workplaces to protect temporary foreign workers as one of many needed measures to improve worker protection. We are disappointed however that the Budget fails to provide a pathway to regularization for all people with precarious immigration status, including migrant workers. We are further alarmed that the Budget does not address discriminatory access to the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) for parents with precarious immigration status. Nor does the Budget eliminate systemic barriers to Old Age Security and Guaranteed Income Supplement for immigrant seniors.
“The Budget is also silent on providing amnesty for low-income workers - many of whom are racialized - from recovery of Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) payments. The decision not to extend the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) would also disproportionately impact racialized and immigrant workers who are doing the majority share of essential work during the pandemic.
”The Budget does make promising investments in mental health and health. Equity conditions must be attached to the envisioned $4 billion transfer to provinces meant for health systems recovery, to ensure those funds are used to address health inequities and the disproportionate impact on racialized communities as documented during the pandemic.
“Lastly, on the justice front, COP-COC is encouraged by the proposed $21.5 million for Racialized Communities Legal Support, $26.8 million for immigration and refugee legal aid, and the re-establishment of the Law Commission of Canada to tackle complex challenges such as systemic racism in the justice system. However, we are puzzled by the proposal to enrich the RCMP by $75 million over five years to address systemic racism within, when the institution has a troubling track record of perpetuating systemic racism in the criminal justice system.
”Recognizing that we’ve just observed the April 17 anniversary of Section 15 – the Equality Rights section – of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms – in that spirit COP-COC calls on all federal parties to work together to improve the Budget measures. Toward that end we continue to ask the Canadian Government to adopt our Reconstruction and Recovery Plan in order to help bring about equity and racial justice for all.”
COP-COC Steering Committee members –
Access Alliance Multicultural Health & Community Services
Black Legal Action Centre
Canadian Arab Federation
Chinese and South East Asian Legal Clinic
Chinese Canadian National Council Toronto Chapter
Council of Agencies Serving South Asians
Hispanic Development Council
Karuna Community Services
La Passerelle – I.D.E.
Mennonite New Life Centre of Toronto
Midaynta Community Services
OCASI - Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants
Punjabi Community Health Services
South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario
The Neighbourhood Organization
Urban Alliance on Race Relations
Academic Partner: Professor Grace Edward Galabuzi |
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