Sherbrooke, QC, July 21, 2020 - It was by videoconference that the MP for Compton-Stanstead and Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Marie-Claude Bibeau, invited on Tuesday the Black community from our region to a round table on racism. Minister Bibeau was accompanied by Parliamentary Secretary Greg Fergus, MP for Hull-Aylmer and chair of the Parliamentary Black Caucus.

Organized in collaboration with the Federation of Cultural Communities of Estrie (FCCE), this meeting came in the wake of the anti-racism protests that have rocked the world in recent months. It brought together nearly twenty citizens and representatives of various organizations in the region recognized for their involvement with cultural communities and racialized people. Among them, the organizers of the George Floyd march against racism (Deborah Akpavi, Delphine Togbe and Ornella Yele).

After sharing testimonies and recommendations, the participants agreed to continue the dialogue and the sharing of information in order to measure the progress of anti-discrimination policies in the country and in the region.

"It is a way for us to see that beyond the discourse, concrete actions are taken by our governments to put an end to racism in our institutions," explained Mariame Cissé, Project Coordinator at the FCCE.

The Government of Canada is committed to assuming a leadership role in the fight against racism that it considers systemic in the country and to reforming federal institutions so that a deep change takes place which is reflected in social policies and programs.

"The purpose of the round table was to better understand how racism is experienced in our country, to listen and identify solutions that can be found in our community. Education and better understanding one another remain essential, and you can be sure that I will be an active participant in this communication effort," explained Minister Bibeau.

"Discriminatory barriers have moved from formal to informal. To change the narrative surrounding the Black community, they must have access to the tools to create more prosperity and wealth,” added Mr. Fergus.

The Trudeau government's goals are very clear in terms of fighting racism and discrimination. Among them, the establishment of the Anti-Racism Secretariat initiated during the last mandate, as well as the establishment of a legal framework to combat hate and harassment online. At the economic level, several calls for proposals have been launched since 2015 including the Support Black Communities in Canada program whose funds aim to help organizations led by Blacks to build the capacity and infrastructure they need to better serve their communities. Organizations are invited to submit a funding request by July 27, 2020.

Quick Facts

• Since 2015, as part of the International Decade for People of African Descent, the Government of Canada has invested $ 25 million to support and fund projects aimed at helping Black communities in Canada to prosper.

• The Government of Canada is more than ever promoting inclusion and diversity in the public service. The Hon. Jean-Yves Duclos, President of the Treasury Board, met at the beginning of the year with the Caucus of Black Federal Employees (CBFE). In this capacity, he highlighted the appointment in February 2020 of Caroline Xavier to the position of Associate Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Citizenship, Immigration and Refugees. This is the first time in Canadian history that a Black person has held such a senior position in the federal public service.

• From October 2018 to March 2019, Canadian Heritage held community sessions to gather feedback from Canadians, especially those who have experienced racism and discrimination. The engagement process consisted of 22 in-person forums attended by approximately 600 people from across the country.

• By investing $ 19 million to increase community support for youth, as well as to advance research in support of mental health programs focused on the Black Canadian community, the government seeks to create a sense of belonging and pride among young Black Canadians. This initiative is part of Canada's first Poverty Reduction Strategy (titled Opportunity for All).

• In 2018, for Black History Month, the federal government’s theme was “Canadian Black Women: Stories of Strength, Courage and Vision.” Jean Augustine, Viola Desmond, Michaëlle Jean, Jully Black and Afua Cooper are just a few examples of Black women who have helped make Canada the country we know today. Too often their stories have been overlooked (Notable Black Canadian Historical Figures).

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For media enquiries, please contact:

Kimberly Luce

Constituency Assistant

Office of the Hon. Marie-Claude Bibeau, MP for Compton-Stanstead

Cell: 819-571-8926