N.B. government to establish anti-racism office in response to systemic racism report

New Brunswick's provincial flag flies on a flagpole in Ottawa on July 6, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

The New Brunswick government has announced a new plan to address racism in the province, officially responding to the commissioner on systemic racism’s final report.

The plan includes establishing an anti-racism office within the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour.

According to a news release from the province, the office will work to dismantle systemic racism and remove barriers through policy change, challenging practices, and partnering with communities and affected parties.

“Racism has no place in New Brunswick,” said Post-Secondary Education and Training Minister Jean-Claude D’Amours in the release. “We all have a role to play in creating a province that is inclusive, welcoming and free of hate. Dismantling all forms of racism will take a sustained, multi-generational effort, and we are proud to present how government intends to lead this change across the province.”

In response to the commissioner’s report, the province says work has begun or has been completed on 59 per cent of the 86 recommendations.

“We know more work lies ahead. We recognize that not all recommendations can be addressed immediately, but we will continue collaborating with partners like the New Brunswick Multicultural Council and the cultural community to identify opportunities for further improvements,” said D’Amours.

The province says the anti-racism office will be collaborating with partners to monitor progress on the implementation of the recommendations, and it will be launching a new website where it will report on the progress being made.

“The establishment of an anti-racism office is a significant step for New Brunswick,” said Ben McNamara, executive director of the New Brunswick Multicultural Council in the release. “As the report of the commissioner on systemic racism made clear, we need leadership at a senior level with the power to oversee the dismantling of systemic racism. We stand ready to work alongside this office and the government of New Brunswick to ensure the recommendations from the report translate into meaningful action for all New Brunswickers.”

The province says it will also be having discussions with First Nations leadership to ensure the experiences and concerns of Indigenous Peoples are addressed.

For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.