The impact of BC’s new legislation targeting systemic racism
British Columbia’s recently announced Anti-Racism Act would require public bodies to report to a new provincial anti-racism committee on their efforts to combat “systemic racism.”
Public employees would undergo training in indigenous history and policies, and organizational programs would be regularly assessed against an anti-racism framework created by the new committee, with enforcement responsibilities falling on the attorney general.
The press release states, “To ensure compliance, the bill authorizes the attorney general to conduct compliance reviews of any public body suspected of non-compliance with the law. The attorney general also has the authority to issue compliance orders to those failing to adhere to the law.”
Top Priority: Anti-Racism Curriculum for K-12
The government engaged with “racialized” individuals through community organizations leading up to the Anti-Racism Data Act, enabling the collection of race-based data for identifying and addressing “systemic racism.” The newly announced Anti-Racism Act is said to be informed by this data.
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The release references the 2022 public engagement report, where education was identified as a “top priority area,” with 24 percent of reports submitted by organizations highlighting it as such.
“Education should leverage intersectional data to enhance diversity, with the curriculum for K-12 being a specific government focus,” the engagement summary noted. “One report even recommended integrating critical race theory into higher education.”
Critical race theory, a neo-Marxist ideology emphasizing an oppressor-oppressed struggle in society, highlights “intersectional” identities and the concept of privilege based on various characteristics like race and gender. These ideas are often discussed as “anti-racism” in public discourse, alongside the term “critical race theory.”
Participants in the provincial engagement viewed education as a tool for helping students grasp societal imbalances, fostering acceptance, and promoting awareness. They believed education could challenge stereotypes, support anti-racism initiatives, and address marginalized voices, such as the rights and education of Métis Nations.
Dan Brooks, a Vanderhoof, B.C., parent, shared his daughter Rachel’s experience at 13, where her class was instructed to position themselves on a “Wheel of Privilege” two years prior.
“As a white person, she felt attacked and shamed regarding her whiteness,” he conveyed. “Feeling labeled as a racist or privileged oppressor was deeply offensive and contradicted her values and home experiences.”
Rachel has an indigenous older sister, illustrating how such lessons may evoke anger, guilt, or shame in individuals not fully equipped to handle such discussions.
“The pain we felt as parents hearing our indigenous daughter refer to her skin as ‘dirty’ was devastating. These should not be experiences any child endures, and hearing the same sentiments from Rachel due to her whiteness was heart-wrenching.”
Health Care and Social Services
The second highest priority area, acknowledged by 19 percent of respondents in the public engagement, was health care.
“Family doctors, clinics, and hospitals were identified as urgent areas needing change due to perceived racism in accessing services,” the report highlighted.
Examples included encountering racism during pregnancies and deliveries, along with complaints of inadequate language services. Some individuals reported receiving subpar health care due to their accents.
Thirteen percent identified assistance with other government services as crucial, particularly aid for newcomers. Concerns included insufficient language services and overall support for these groups.
