Improving access to housing

Deepen equity in service delivery by and to PADs

Recommendation 71: The Province should increase funding for People of African Descent organisations and tenant support agencies to provide free advice on housing investments, and rent support programs targeted at People of African Descent in economic precarity.

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 anti-racism accountability systems in public engagement

Implements policy and legislative safeguards for PADs

Recommendation 73: There is the need for an Anti-racism legislation that provides sustainable redress mechanisms for candidates of African Descent, at all levels of politics in BC, facing racism in the form of sabotaged campaigns through inequitable party funding allocations, exploitative tokenism practices, and lack of contextualized supports, including mental health support. To improve equity of such mechanisms, In developing these mechanisms, inputs from current and former candidates of African Descent themselves should be sought to best address exploitative practices of PAD candidates in terms of the constitution of their support team, messaging, media appearances etc.

Improving anti-racism accountability systems in public engagement

Enable data collection to measure and report progress in equity and diversity

Recommendation 74: The Ministry of Citizens’ Services and Elections BC must ensure that the Race-based Data Legislation provides sufficient room for all public entities to submit periodic reports on their policies, choices and realities as they relate to diversity of leadership. It will particularly be important to ensure that Political parties can collect, use, and share information on minority participation at all levels of their political work.

Deepening PAD representation in public engagement

Increase the recruitment of PADs

Recommendation 75: The Ministry of Municipal Affairs must prioritize active recruitment of People of African Descent on all governmental and public boards and committees in the province to strengthen diversity and even out opportunities to build experiential knowledge in public governance for People of African Descent. It is strongly recommended that representation be equitable across age, gender and levels of experience or income.

Deepening PAD representation in public engagement

Increase the recruitment of PADs

Recommendation 76: The Ministry of Municipal Affairs should invest in initiatives that support and encourage political parties to engage significantly more in the active recruitment of People of African Descent, regardless of gender identity and expression, across all levels of the party from candidature to youth ranks. The Union of Municipalities’ dedicated programming to support gender equality and equity is a useful model to build on.

Deepening PAD representation in public engagement

Deepen equity in service delivery by and to PADs

Recommendation 77: The Ministry of Municipal Affairs should provide candidates of African Descent with the necessary resources, including dedicated mental health and counseling support, to allow them to navigate structural challenges and inequities they historically face during and post electoral campaigns.

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.