A new demographic survey is an opportunity to make systemic racism visible within provincial services, says a member of B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 Anti-Racism Data Committee.
The province launched the survey Wednesday (June 14).
香蕉视频直播淢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,香蕉视频直播� 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 香蕉视频直播渄eliver stronger, more accessible, and more inclusive programs and services for everyone.香蕉视频直播� 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 Canada香蕉视频直播檚 history data has 香蕉视频直播渂een used against us香蕉视频直播� to cause harm and exclusion. She pointed to the Chinese Head Tax, which ran from 1885 to 1923.
香蕉视频直播淚 hear the frustration of communities. We understand. It香蕉视频直播檚 been hundreds of years. There香蕉视频直播檚 no question that communities are frustrated.香蕉视频直播�
Citizens香蕉视频直播� Services Minister Lisa Beare said she has heard from Indigenous Peoples and racialized groups that they are being left behind because government services weren香蕉视频直播檛 designed with them in mind.
香蕉视频直播淭he system we香蕉视频直播檝e created is a colonial government and that香蕉视频直播檚 what we香蕉视频直播檙e here to dismantle.香蕉视频直播�
She said the survey is for every single British Columbian.
香蕉视频直播淵ou wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 think, necessarily, that you need to take the survey if you香蕉视频直播檙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 it香蕉视频直播檚 different than someone else. If I香蕉视频直播檓 receiving different services than other people, we need to fix that.香蕉视频直播�
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Francis has previously said she香蕉视频直播檚 looking for legislation that has 香蕉视频直播渢eeth.香蕉视频直播� This survey is foundational to that.
香蕉视频直播淭his is the beginning, like opening up your mouth but not quite biting on it yet,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淚f we don香蕉视频直播檛 understand where the gaps are, if we cannot demonstrate where the gaps are, if we can香蕉视频直播檛 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.香蕉视频直播�
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.
It香蕉视频直播檚 open until Sept. 29, 2023.
lauren.collins@blackpress.ca
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