A Victoria resident looking into buying a property in Esquimalt was shocked to find a racist clause on the land title.

Anna King, who vied for a seat on Victoria city council in the 2018 municipal election, posted a photo to Twitter Tuesday showing a land title clause that forbade East Indian or Asiatic people from occupying the property.

B次元官网网址淚 was shocked. It made me feel very unwelcome and reminded me of the trials and discrimination my people faced and continue to face,B次元官网网址� King said.

She is now calling on the City of Victoria, the District of Oak Bay and the Township of Esquimalt to strike the racist clauses in property covenants.

B次元官网网址淚 hope municipalities will remove or strike the causes or show a statement of intent saying anyone that wants to live there is welcome,B次元官网网址� said King.

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B次元官网网址淩acism of any kind is not tolerated in Victoria. Everyone is welcome,B次元官网网址� said Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps, who was not previously aware of the land titles issue. B次元官网网址淚ndeed a key action in our 2019-2022 Strategic Plan is to make Victoria a welcoming city, which means an inclusive and welcoming place for everyone.B次元官网网址�

The B.C. government amended the Land Title Act in 1978 to declare racist or discriminatory restrictive covenants void, but many of the clauses still appear on titles. Though they are B次元官网网址渙f no effectB次元官网网址� King said she had to seek that information out after finding the racist restriction.

B次元官网网址淚t didnB次元官网网址檛 say on the title that it wasnB次元官网网址檛 in effect anymore or that it was void,B次元官网网址� King said.

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The property title King found reads: B次元官网网址淏uilding restrictions: That not grant, assignment or occupancy of the land herein devised shall be granted or be permitted to persons of East Indian or of Asiatic birth or origin EXCEPT of the white race.B次元官网网址�

The B.C. Land Title and Survey Authority will, free of charge, amend the register and record to show that any discriminatory covenant is cancelled, but it is up to the title holder to initiate the change, leaving many properties in Victory, Esquimalt, Oak Bay and beyond with the racist clauses still on title.

B次元官网网址淚t makes me wonder about unconscious bias. We think that everything is fine, but I wonder how many people have these clauses on their title and just left them in place,B次元官网网址� said King.

I had buyers purchase a home in Oak Bay a few years ago & there was a similar covenant on title. I helped them figure out how to remove it & they went through a legal process & had it eradicated from title. We see them more often than you would think.

B次元官网网址� Cassie Kangas (@oakbayagent)

Realtor Cassie Kangas with Engel & V枚lkers Vancouver Island said the racist clauses are becoming less prolific as people become more proactive in getting them removed.

B次元官网网址淚 had clients purchase a lot in Oak Bay a few years ago. During our due diligence we found a similar clause on title and my clients were horrified,B次元官网网址� said Kangas. B次元官网网址淎fter purchasing the property we figured out the next steps and got it removed.B次元官网网址�

The clauses are more likely to be found in areas where homeowners have owned their houses for decades, said Kangas, where the titles havenB次元官网网址檛 been scrutinized by todayB次元官网网址檚 standards.

Any owners wanting racially discriminatory clauses cancelled from their land titles can submit requests to the registrar online through the LTSA Customer Service Centre at .