Deepening PAD representaion in legal and justice services

Support collaboration between PAD professionals

Recommendation 30: The Ministry of Justice in collaboration with the Ministry of Advanced Education should make funding available for law practitioners of African descent to provide mentoring and coaching services to youth and newcomers of African descent as it will ensure a greater holistic orientation on societal expectations.

Improving access to legal services

Support PAD-led models and community collaboration

Recommendation 32: The Ministry of Attorney General should provide funding for the Law Society and People of African Descent community organizations to run legal clinics and legal aid programs for People of African Descent, predominantly led and designed by law practitioners of African descent. These programs must be accessible from anywhere within the province and run with an anti-Black racism lens and with a clear legal advocacy strategy. The Black Legal Action Centre in Ontario is a good example of a community legal aid program for the People of African Descent community.

Improving anti-racism accountability systems in housing

Implement policy and legislative safeguards for PADs

Recommendation 66: The Ministry of Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Housing should explicitly regulate against gentrification and ban practices that pigeonhole People of African Descent and families into living in particular residential zones in BC cities. This should include funding and collaboration with People of African Descent organizations to deepen tenants and landlords’ awareness of their rights and responsibilities. This is particularly crucial for People of African Descent renters to more easily access information on their options in various scenarios and on how to protect their rights.