Safe & Inclusive Communities

From: Department of Finance Canada

Backgrounder

April 7, 2022

For generations, newcomers from around the world have helped build a Canada that is as vibrant and prosperous as it is today.

In Canada, diversity is a fact, but inclusion is a choice—and there is still work to be done to make Canada a country that is truly equal for everyone. The past two years, in particular, have reminded us of the systemic barriers and vulnerabilities faced by Black and racialized Canadians, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, women, seniors, and LGBTQ2 Canadians. Budget 2022 introduces new measures to promote a more equitable, more inclusive Canada, and to build communities where everyone is empowered to succeed.

A Federal LGBTQ2 Action Plan

While Canada has made significant progress since same-sex marriage was legalized in 2005, many LGBTQ2 Canadians still face discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, which continues to result in persistent health, social, and economic inequities.

• Budget 2022 proposes to provide $100 million over five years, starting in 2022-23, to support the implementation of the forthcoming Federal LGBTQ2 Action Plan, which will support a fairer and more equal Canada for LGBTQ2 Canadians.

Fighting Systemic Racism, Discrimination, and Hate

Racism has no place in Canada. Our society and our economy are made stronger every day by Canada’s remarkable cultural, linguistic, and ethnic diversity. While as a country we have made real progress, racism continues to be an everyday experience for many Canadians, as evidenced by a sharp rise in anti-Asian racism, anti-Black racism, anti-Semitic hate, and a number of horrific Islamophobic attacks in recent years.

• Recognizing that Canada’s fight against racism is far from over, Budget 2022 proposes to provide $85 million over four years, starting in 2022-23, to the Department of Canadian Heritage to support the work underway to launch a new Anti-Racism Strategy and National Action Plan on Combatting Hate. This funding will support community projects that ensure that Black and racialized Canadians, and religious minorities have access to resources that support their full participation in the Canadian economy, while also raising awareness of issues related to racism and hate in Canada.
• To push back against religious discrimination, hateful rhetoric and racism at home and abroad, Budget 2022 proposes to provide $11.2 million over five years, starting in 2022-23, with $2.4 million ongoing, to the Department of Canadian Heritage and Global Affairs Canada as follows:
  • $5.6 million over five years, with $1.2 million ongoing to support the Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism.
  • $5.6 million over five years, with $1.2 million ongoing to support the new Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia.

To keep alive the memory of those murdered during the Holocaust and combat both historical distortions and Holocaust denial:

• Budget 2022 proposes to provide $20 million in 2022-23 to the Department of Canadian Heritage to support the construction of the new Holocaust Museum in Montréal; and an investment of $2.5 million for the Sarah and Chaim Neuberger Holocaust Education Centre, as has been approved through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund and Museum Assistance Program.
  Supporting Black Canadian Communities

Data continues to show that Black Canadians face more precarious employment, and an unjust prevalence of low-income households as a result of anti-Black racism that has a detrimental impact on the socio-economic well-being of many Black Canadians. The federal government is committed to continue closing the systemic inequities faced by Black Canadian communities.

• Budget 2022 proposes to provide $50 million over two years, starting in 2022-23, to Employment and Social Development Canada for the Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative, to continue empowering Black-led and Black-serving community organizations and the work they do to promote inclusiveness.
  Working with Provinces and Territories to Advance the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence

The government is committed to working with provinces and territories, as well as stakeholders and Indigenous partners, to prevent and address gender-based violence in Canada. Building on investments to date—including over $600 million over five years provided through Budget 2021—the government is now moving forward with provinces and territories to ensure a coordinated, national response to end gender-based violence across Canada.

• Budget 2022 proposes to provide $539.3 million over five years, starting in 2022-23, to Women and Gender Equality Canada to enable provinces and territories to supplement and enhance services and supports within their jurisdictions to prevent gender-based violence and support survivors. This investment will support provinces and territories in their efforts to implement the forthcoming National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence.
  Supporting Local and Diverse Journalism

The diversity of media and news stories in Canada should reflect the diversity of Canadians. To support diverse and local stories in news media, Budget 2022 proposes to provide $15 million in 2023-24 to Canadian Heritage as follows:

• $10 million in 2023-24 for the Local Journalism Initiative to continue to support the production of local journalism for underserved communities across Canada.
• $5 million in 2023-24 to launch a new Changing Narratives Fund to break down systemic barriers in the media and cultural sectors and help racialized and religious minority journalists, creators, and organizations have their experiences and perspectives better represented.

To further support local and diverse journalism, Budget 2022 also proposes to provide:

• $40 million over three years, starting in 2022-23, for the Canada Periodical Fund to support the availability of journalistic content and to help these publications adapt to the continually evolving technology and media consumption habits of Canadians.
  Supporting Canada’s Performing Arts and Heritage Sectors

Canada’s performing arts, including our world-class theatre sector, have been devastated by closures and capacity restrictions during the pandemic. In Budget 2021, the government invested over $500 million to support the reopening and recovery of Canada’s arts, culture, heritage, and sports sectors. The 2021 Economic and Fiscal Update announced a further $62.3 million in direct support for performing artists and behind-the-scenes workers financially affected by the pandemic.

• To complement previous initiatives, Budget 2022 proposes to provide $12.1 million over two years, starting in 2022-23, to the National Arts Centre to support the creation, co-production, promotion, and touring of productions with Canadian commercial and not-for-profit performing arts companies.
• To compensate Canadian arts, culture, and heritage organizations for revenue losses due to public health restrictions and capacity limits, Budget 2022 proposes to provide an additional $50 million in 2022-23 to the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Canada Council for the Arts, and Telefilm Canada.
  Supporting a More Inclusive Arts Training Sector

The Canada Arts Training Fund helps to build the next generation of Canadian creators and cultural leaders by supporting the training of artists with high potential, and Budget 2022 will deliver additional support for Indigenous and racialized arts training organizations to increase the participation, promotion, and representation of historically underserved communities.

• To continue to support the arts sector’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and to address historic inequities in funding levels for Indigenous and racialized arts training organizations, Budget 2022 proposes to provide $22.5 million over five years starting in 2022-23, and $5 million ongoing, to Canadian Heritage for the Canada Arts Training Fund.

An Employment Strategy for Persons With Disabilities

Persons with disabilities should be fully included in Canada’s economic recovery, and despite being ready and willing to work, their employment rates are much lower than those of Canadians without disabilities—59 per cent versus 80 per cent, according to the 2017 Canadian Survey on Disability.

• Budget 2022 proposes to provide $272.6 million over five years to support the implementation of an employment strategy for persons with disabilities through the Opportunities Fund, which will help to address labour market shortages through increased participation by persons with disabilities and make workplaces more inclusive and accessible.
  Creating a Safer Sport System

Canada’s high performance athletes should feel safe in an environment that is free from abuse, harassment, and discrimination. However, many Canadian athletes have brought forward evidence of unsafe environments in competitive sports.

• Budget 2022 proposes to provide $16 million over three years, starting in 2022-23, to the Department of Canadian Heritage, to support actions to create a safer sport system. This will include funding for the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada for the implementation of the new Independent Safe Sport Mechanism, and funding to ensure national sport policies and practices reduce the risk of harassment, abuse, and discrimination and create a safer and more inclusive sport system.
  Supporting Special Olympics Canada

Special Olympics is a global movement that provides programs and competition opportunities to enrich the lives of millions of people with intellectual disabilities around the world through sport—including in communities across Canada.

• Budget 2022 proposes to provide $1.8 million in ongoing funding, starting in 2022-23, as an extension to the $16 million investment in Special Olympics Canada through Budget 2018. This funding will support more than 45,000 children, youth, and adults through its strong network of 21,000 volunteers

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