Improving access to housing

Support PAD-led models and community collaboration

Recommendation 72: The Province should commit to working with the Hogan’s Alley Working Group to deepen the long term involvement and investment of the Black Community in the future life of the historic 898 Main Street block in Vancouver through the exploration of land trusts, long term leases, or other arrangements as appropriate.

Improving PAD’s civic and democratic engagement

Implement policy and legislative safeguards for PADs

Recommendation 78: The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Elections BC should develop and propose avenues to legislate for persons resident in BC but not citizens to have a vote in provincial and local elections. The contours of this legislation must be arrived at based on deep and reflective consultations with minority community groups, including leaders and experts of African Descent.

Improving PAD’s civic and democratic engagement

Reform and promote accurate representation of PADs

Recommendation 79: The Province should make funding available to civil society organizations, including political parties, to highlight and celebrate People of African Descent leaders across all spheres of society. This should include funding of a People of African Descent leadership conference and youth leadership bootcamp to provide opportunities for various People of African Descent leaders across multiple sectors to interact, share experiences and build solidarities.

Improving PAD’s civic and democratic engagement

Support PAD-led models and community collaboration

Recommendation 80: The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Elections BC should work with African Descent groups such as Operation Black Vote Canada to promote political education and strengthen democratic engagement acumen within People of African Descent communities; and to create leadership programs that draw on experienced politicians and leaders of African Descent to prioritize reflective mentorship, internship, volunteer and training opportunities for People of African Descent.

Improving PAD’s civic and democratic engagement

Support PAD-led models and community collaboration

Recommendation 81: The Province should provide funding to People of African Descent organizations to deepen their capacities to fully undertake their organizational mandates. This is critical to overcome and redress structural impacts of colonialism on People of African Descent organizational trauma. More specifically, this will attenuate the broken trust and strained relationship of People of African Descent grassroot organization with institutional systems that have historically been used as repressive instruments against them. It is particularly recommended that successful models, interventions, and recommendations of People of African Descent organizations be leveraged in implementing measures to improve the conditions of People of African Descent across BC.

Improving anti-racism accountability systems in media and arts

Implement policy and legislative safeguards for PADs

Recommendation 82: The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, the Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Division at the Ministry of Attorney General, and subject matter experts from the People of African Descent community, including the Canadian Association of Black Journalists, should collaborate to ensure that the anti-racism legislation imposes regulatory and authoritative oversight to seek greater accountability from the Fourth Estate, film, communications, and advertising consortiums by requiring targeted cultural sensitization outreach and structured engagements to encourage best practices in hiring, professional advancement, and minority representation in messaging content.

Deepening PAD art presence and media representation

Support PAD-led models and community collaboration

Recommendation 86: The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport and the Gaming Commission should consult with the Canadian Association of Black Journalists alongside other bona-fide actors in this context, to design and provide incentives, targeted grants, and dedicated strategic support, including merit-based grants to Black journalists, content creators and media entrepreneurs to support their critical work of accurately telling People of African Descent stories and creatively highlighting Black issues.

Increase access to resettlement services for PADs

Support PAD-led models and community collaboration

Recommendation 96: The Ministry of Municipal Affairs in collaboration with the Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Division at the Ministry of Attorney General should fund shared or dedicated cultural spaces for Peoples of African Descent in partnership with People of African Descent-led organizations. These spaces will be used as avenues for building solidarity amongst People of African Descent communities, deepening culture and language exchanges, and offering wellness resources.