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