On Emancipation Day, the Black Class Action Secretariat (BCAS) announced a call for the Government of Canada to create a National Commission on the Legacy of Slavery and Anti-Black Racism. The move follows years of advocacy by the group, which argues that systemic barriers continue to affect Black communities across Canada in areas like employment, education, and healthcare, as well as through broader social and institutional structures.
The proposed commission would investigate the ongoing impact of historical discrimination in sectors including employment, education, health care, policing, immigration, and the administration of justice. It would also seek to identify legislative, policy, and institutional reforms to promote equality and strengthen public accountability across Canadian society.
BCAS on Emancipation Day
BCAS CEO Nicholas Marcus Thompson emphasized the importance of Emancipation Day beyond remembrance. He noted that Canada has not yet conducted a comprehensive national study on the legacy of slavery and anti-Black racism, nor has it fully examined how those systems continue to affect people of African descent within Canada today. Thompson stressed that a national approach is needed to uncover these issues and create real change.
“Canada has never undertaken a comprehensive national examination of slavery and anti-Black racism or how that history continues to shape opportunities and outcomes for Canadians of African descent.” Thompson's statement highlights the lack of systemic action in understanding and addressing these challenges.
BCAS is urging the government to begin consultations with Black communities, provinces and territories, Indigenous partners, and civil society. The organization aims to build a national framework to address systemic barriers, improve opportunities, and foster long-term change by creating a more inclusive and accountable Canada.
The call aligns with Canada’s ongoing efforts, such as the Black Justice Strategy, but BCAS emphasizes that the problem extends beyond the justice system and calls for a broader, more inclusive approach involving all relevant stakeholders in the conversation.