Province seeks people to join anti-racism committee, help dismantle systemic racism

June 24, 2022

VICTORIA – People from diverse backgrounds with a passion to help build a better, more equitable province are encouraged to apply to be part of B.C.’s first anti-racism data committee.

The anti-racism data committee is part of B.C.’s recently enacted Anti-Racism Data Act, which charts a new path forward in partnership with Indigenous and Black people and other people of colour to use and share data safely and to make government programs and services work better for more people. This is the first anti-racism act in Canada to be co-developed with Indigenous Peoples.

Applications will be accepted until July 18, 2022, for as many as 11 positions, including a committee chair, that will have an initial term for as many as three years. Indigenous, Black and other racialized people are encouraged to apply. Committee members will help develop data standards, provide guidance about how data can be used safely, and identify government research priorities. Committee members will receive an honorarium and will be reimbursed for any travel expenses.

The committee will bring together people from every region of the province to collaborate with the B.C. government to implement the act and ensure the voices of racialized people are central throughout the process.

Between September 2021 and January 2022, more than 13,000 people provided input about the development of the act, including about how they prefer to identify, their experiences using government services, and their feedback about how race-based data and data about people’s identity should be used and stored.

The anti-racism data committee will use this feedback to develop safeguards and transparency measures to protect this data and make sure it is used to meet the needs of people most affected by systemic racism. The committee will also help develop a voluntary population survey that is expected to be launched this fall.

The Anti-Racism Data Act is an important part of the Province’s commitment to dismantle systemic racism and build a better, more inclusive province for everyone.

Learn More:

For more information about the committee and to apply, visit: https://www.bcpublicsectorboardapplications.gov.bc.ca/s/noticeofpositionDetail?nop=J-0191

For more information about the Anti-Racism Data Act, visit: https://engage.gov.bc.ca/antiracism/

To read the Anti-Racism Data Act, visit: https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/bills/billscurrent/3rd42nd:gov24-1

Contacts:

Ministry of Citizens’ Services
Media relations
250 356-7959

Ministry of Attorney General
Media relations
236 478-0251

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