Study Finds That Canada Has Had Laws Against ‘Systemic Racism’ for a Long Time

August 19, 2024 TruthUSA

It was back in 1913 that Prince Edward Island passed the first bill in Canada to prohibit discrimination, as revealed in a recent study by the Aristotle Foundation public policy think tank.

The bill mandated that treatment for tuberculosis victims must be administered without regard for “class, creed, or nationality.”

The study traces the evolution of provincial and federal laws over more than a century, telling the story of Canada’s efforts to combat discrimination.

Mark Milke, president and founder of the Aristotle Foundation, explained that the study was undertaken to educate people on the differences between “prejudice” and “actual institutional racism,” emphasizing that they should not be confused.

“Institutional racism refers to situations where institutions, like a ‘white’ hospital in San Francisco 100 years ago, discriminated against Chinese Americans, or when universities once limited the entry of Jewish or black individuals,” Milke told The Epoch Times.

“But such discrimination has long been outlawed, as in Ontario since the 1950s. It’s important for Canadians to be aware of this,” he added.

Milke also highlighted how the modern “so-called ‘anti-racism’ movement” does not align with its intended purpose.

“It is instead focused on attempting to rectify past injustices with new, additional injustices. This approach is anti-individual and illiberal,” he stated.

Historic Bills

Alongside the 1913 bill in P.E.I., the study identified British Columbia’s Unemployment Relief Act of 1932 as the next legislation to contain anti-discrimination provisions. This act ensured that all eligible individuals could receive unemployment benefits regardless of their political affiliation, race, or religion.

In 1934, Manitoba introduced anti-libel legislation that prohibited libel based on race or creed. Ontario followed suit in 1944 by banning discriminatory signs and symbols.

Saskatchewan’s 1947 Bill of Rights outlawed discrimination on various grounds. New Brunswick in 1956 and Nova Scotia in 1959 both enacted laws prohibiting discrimination based on race or religion.

The study noted that the first federal anti-discrimination legislation was the 1953 Fair Employment Practices Act, which prohibited discrimination based on race, national origin, color, or religion in employment practices.

The Canadian Bill of Rights Act of 1960 preceded the enactment of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982. While the former focused on equality before the law in government-citizen relations, the latter extended to discrimination between private individuals and entities. The study highlighted that all provinces had already introduced human rights legislation before the charter came into effect.

“Originally, laws prohibiting discrimination were limited to areas like employment, accommodation, and goods/services provision. In recent decades, the scope of these laws has broadened significantly,” the study explained.

The authors emphasized that individuals who experience discrimination have legal recourse, indicating that systemic racism is not prevalent in Canada.

Canadian law allows for a specific form of discrimination aimed at improving the conditions of disadvantaged individuals or groups, known as “employment equity” or “affirmative action,” as outlined in section 15(2) of the Charter, according to the study.

Source link