Improving community safety and access to policing services for PADs

Increase the recruitment of PADs

Recommendation 7: The Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Division at the Ministry of Attorney General plans to deploy an anti-racism non-police hotline must include unambiguous mechanisms to achieve adequate diversity of responders from minority communities and People of African Descent. It is also critical that all responders be trained to apply culturally sensitive practices, when interacting with People of African Descent, that involve empathy and contextual understanding of their unique situations.

Improving PAD access to health services

Deepen equity in service delivery by and to PADs

Recommendation 22: The Ministry of Health should collaborate with People of African Descent organizations to ensure adequate healthcare coverage bridging is available to newcomers awaiting MSP and to non-landed immigrants such as refugees and international students. It is particularly recommended that the province consider eliminating MSP premiums for international students in BC.

Improving PAD access to health services

Deepen equity in service delivery by and to PADs

Recommendation 23: The Ministry of Health should work to expand MSP coverage to mental health care and support. This should include the creation and funding of health advocates and patient navigators services focused on making the hospital experience of People of African Descent safer.

Improving PAD access to health services

Deepen equity in service delivery by and to PADs

Recommendation 24: The Ministry of Health should promote and fund an advocacy mechanism dedicated to the promotion of the health and mental wellbeing of Peoples of African Descent in BC. It is particularly recommended to prioritize the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of health professionals of African descent in BC. This care of health care professionals of African descent should be implemented along other incentives designed to retain them in BC.

Improving PAD access to health services

Support PAD-led models and community collaboration

Recommendation 25: The Ministry of Health should fund and promote the creation of mental health hubs and free People of African Descent-led counseling and clinical mental health sessions that are easily accessible for Peoples of African descent across the Province.

Improving access to legal services

Support PAD-led models and community collaboration

Recommendation 31: The Ministry of Attorney General should collaborate with community organizations and leaders to promote and deepen People of African Descent communities’ understanding of new legislations as they come into force. This will be particularly critical for the anti-racism legislation that requires simultaneous investments in accessible outlets to provide the People of African Descent community with competent education on their rights, privileges, freedoms and legal options.

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.

Deepening PAD participation in entrepreneurship

Deepen equity in service delivery by and to PADs

Recommendation 36: The Ministry of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour should unequivocally support entrepreneurs of African descent through dedicated avenues for skills, products and business promotions. Amongst key measures recommended, the Government should commit to sourcing a reasonable proportion of governmental purchases and contracts from PAD businesses.

Improving support for Black businesses and owners

Deepen equity in service delivery by and to PADs

Recommendation 37: The Ministry of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation must commit to creating dedicated and adequate funding pathways, including grants and concessionary loans for business owners of African descent, that are less complex to access and have clearer criteria than the federal-level Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund under the Black Entrepreneurship Program. Considering historical and structural risks and biases People of African Descent businesses have to contend with, It is also critical for these programs to reduce or attenuate emphasis on collaterals by Banks.

Improving support for Black businesses and owners

Deepen equity in service delivery by and to PADs

Recommendation 38: The Ministry of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation should invest in advisory, consulting, and mentoring services for People of African Descent businesses accessing loan programs. This should come through both a centralized funding stream through People of African Descent business organizations and a separate stream directly accessible by People of African Descent business owners.