A new demographic survey is an opportunity to make systemic racism visible within provincial services, says a member of B.C.91裸聊视频檚 Anti-Racism Data Committee.
The province launched the survey Wednesday (June 14).
91裸聊视频淢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,91裸聊视频� 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 91裸聊视频渄eliver stronger, more accessible, and more inclusive programs and services for everyone.91裸聊视频� 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 Canada91裸聊视频檚 history data has 91裸聊视频渂een used against us91裸聊视频� to cause harm and exclusion. She pointed to the Chinese Head Tax, which ran from 1885 to 1923.
91裸聊视频淚 hear the frustration of communities. We understand. It91裸聊视频檚 been hundreds of years. There91裸聊视频檚 no question that communities are frustrated.91裸聊视频�
Citizens91裸聊视频� Services Minister Lisa Beare said she has heard from Indigenous Peoples and racialized groups that they are being left behind because government services weren91裸聊视频檛 designed with them in mind.
91裸聊视频淭he system we91裸聊视频檝e created is a colonial government and that91裸聊视频檚 what we91裸聊视频檙e here to dismantle.91裸聊视频�
She said the survey is for every single British Columbian.
91裸聊视频淵ou wouldn91裸聊视频檛 think, necessarily, that you need to take the survey if you91裸聊视频檙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 it91裸聊视频檚 different than someone else. If I91裸聊视频檓 receiving different services than other people, we need to fix that.91裸聊视频�
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Francis has previously said she91裸聊视频檚 looking for legislation that has 91裸聊视频渢eeth.91裸聊视频� This survey is foundational to that.
91裸聊视频淭his is the beginning, like opening up your mouth but not quite biting on it yet,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淚f we don91裸聊视频檛 understand where the gaps are, if we cannot demonstrate where the gaps are, if we can91裸聊视频檛 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.91裸聊视频�
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.
It91裸聊视频檚 open until Sept. 29, 2023.
lauren.collins@blackpress.ca
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