A new demographic survey is an opportunity to make systemic racism visible within provincial services, says a member of B.C.B次元官网网址檚 Anti-Racism Data Committee.
The province launched the survey Wednesday (June 14).
B次元官网网址淢ost of the government programs and services we rely on today were not designed with people who look like us in mind, and as a result, too often we experience exclusion or harm in those programs,B次元官网网址� explained committee member Ellen Kim speaking at the Chinatown Storytelling Centre in Vancouver.
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The information collected through the survey is aimed at helping the province B次元官网网址渄eliver stronger, more accessible, and more inclusive programs and services for everyone.B次元官网网址� It was created through engagement with Indigenous, Black and other racialized communities and includes questions related to race, ethnicity, ancestry and other areas of identity.
The release of the survey follows the Anti-Racism Data Committee releasing its 12 key priorities in May. The committee was announced last year, with 11 members being announced in September 2022.
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June Francis is chair of the committee. She acknowledged that in B.C. and CanadaB次元官网网址檚 history data has B次元官网网址渂een used against usB次元官网网址� to cause harm and exclusion. She pointed to the Chinese Head Tax, which ran from 1885 to 1923.
B次元官网网址淚 hear the frustration of communities. We understand. ItB次元官网网址檚 been hundreds of years. ThereB次元官网网址檚 no question that communities are frustrated.B次元官网网址�
CitizensB次元官网网址� Services Minister Lisa Beare said she has heard from Indigenous Peoples and racialized groups that they are being left behind because government services werenB次元官网网址檛 designed with them in mind.
B次元官网网址淭he system weB次元官网网址檝e created is a colonial government and thatB次元官网网址檚 what weB次元官网网址檙e here to dismantle.B次元官网网址�
She said the survey is for every single British Columbian.
B次元官网网址淵ou wouldnB次元官网网址檛 think, necessarily, that you need to take the survey if youB次元官网网址檙e someone who looks like me, a middle-aged white woman, but we need to know what my access level is to services and if itB次元官网网址檚 different than someone else. If IB次元官网网址檓 receiving different services than other people, we need to fix that.B次元官网网址�
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Francis has previously said sheB次元官网网址檚 looking for legislation that has B次元官网网址渢eeth.B次元官网网址� This survey is foundational to that.
B次元官网网址淭his is the beginning, like opening up your mouth but not quite biting on it yet,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚f we donB次元官网网址檛 understand where the gaps are, if we cannot demonstrate where the gaps are, if we canB次元官网网址檛 measure where the gaps are so we can monitor the progress, it will make it very difficult to actually have service changes and policy changes that have teeth.B次元官网网址�
The survey is available and in 15 languages, or people can take the survey by call toll-free to 1-833-376-2452. It is conducted by BC Stats, and personal identifiers will be removed when survey responses are combined with information about government programs and services.
ItB次元官网网址檚 open until Sept. 29, 2023.
lauren.collins@blackpress.ca
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