British Columbia has released a two-year action plan that aims to address systemic racism in the government.
The plan includes 37 commitments ranging across jobs, health care, public safety and other core government ministries.
Deputy Premier and Attorney General Niki Sharma said Monday the action plan is the first of its kind for B.C.
“In recent months, we’ve seen a rise in backlash against diversity, equity and inclusion policies here at home and down south,” said Sharma. “In fact, just a few weeks ago, I heard our anti-racism efforts being described as ideologically-driven pet projects. This language belittles and demeans the real experience of people and erases how racism continues to have real impacts on people’s lives in their day-to-day here in British Columbia.”
The province said the plan is informed by data collected under two previous pieces of legislation.
The 2022 Anti-Racism Data Act (ARDA) allowed the province to collect and use data for the purpose of identifying program gaps.
The Anti-Racism Act, passed in 2024, required the province to create and support an anti-racism strategy for its public policies, programs and services.
The province highlighted findings that point to higher risk of exploitation among temporary foreign workers, international students, newcomers to B.C. and racialized people working in the gig economy.
It said the action plan includes improved legal oversight of immigration consultants and reviewing employment standards for temporary foreign workers and gig workers.
The plan also raises concerns about the risk of racial bias in artificial intelligence systems. It said risk assessments and an anti-racist AI-use policy are needed as the technology becomes more commonly used in government programs.
The plan includes a number of recommendations to specifically address anti-Indigenous racism.
They include piloting a Red Dress Alert for missing Indigenous women and girls, similar to the Amber Alert system. Another action would establish a First Nations Safety Officer program to give First Nations a more direct role in community safety.
The plan said the government will also work to review and improve its messaging around reconciliation and Indigenous issues as it tries to combat racism and misinformation.
To address anti-Indigenous racism in the health care system, the province plans to set up a new Centre for Anti-Racism and Cultural Safety, improve training for health care workers, and develop a framework to measure progress over time.
The province said data gathered under ARDA also shows there are different rates of chronic diseases among population groups in B.C. It said B.C.’s chronic disease programs, ranging from diabetes to mood disorders, will be reviewed to identify barriers to diagnoses and treatment for racialized patients.
On the education front, the province wants K-12 schools across B.C. to collect identity-based data on students to help guide improvements to programs and supports.
The province said it will also review why Indigenous students are over-represented in special education categories and school completion (evergreen) certificates.
The plan also includes the development of resources for schools to respond to Islamophobia and antisemitism.
The government said it will publish progress reports on the plan in 2027 and 2028.
Speaking alongside Sharma on Monday, Robert Phillips with the First Nations Leadership Council called on the province to follow through on the plan.
“We don’t need an action plan on an action plan. We don’t need another report to outline that there’s racism and prejudice in British Columbia. We don’t need another survey that goes out. We need committees like these to act,” said Phillips.
