Overview

Alberta’s government continues to take action to address racism and help build a more inclusive province.

Our Anti-Racism Action Plan was the first of its kind in Alberta. It outlined government's commitment to lead by sharing the value of diversity, removing systemic barriers to accessing government programs and services and ensuring Albertans have fair access to information, resources, services and opportunities.

One year later, we have made great strides. Taking Action on Racism – our year in review report highlights the significant progress made in combating racism, celebrating diversity and strengthening social inclusion. This includes actions to support community-based organizations, First Nations and Metis groups to identify and address systemic and social barriers, and develop effective community supports.

Together, we will help more Albertans participate to their full potential in society and extend the many benefits that diversity brings to our province.

I want to:

Taking Action on Racism – a year in review

Cover image of the Taking Action on Racism - a year in review report, many hands stacked together.

Taking Action on Racism – a year in review identifies actions taken since the launch of Alberta's Anti-Racism Action Plan.

These are complex issues, but our efforts are making a difference. We've implemented 26 of the 28 recommended actions from the plan as of December, 2023.

Read the full report

Alberta's Anti-Racism Action Plan

Key actions in the Anti-Racism Action Plan are grouped into 5 themes that highlight broad areas to make progress and build a more equitable and inclusive society.

The plan includes steps to measure progress to make sure government actions are effective.

  • Public education and cultural awareness

    • Establishing a new grant program to help address racism and discrimination and enable Albertans to recognize and value cultural differences and heritage.
    • Developing and implementing a Newcomer Recognition Awards program to celebrate the success of newcomers and immigrants from diverse cultural groups.
    • Launching targeted public education initiatives that raise awareness among Albertans about the way racism impacts people, and that has Indigenous-specific content.
    • Signalling government’s formal commitment to addressing racism and condemning actions of racism and hate.
    • Engaging Albertans on their perspectives related to diversity and anti-racism.

  • Government as a catalyst for system improvements

    • Enabling racialized and Indigenous peoples in Alberta access to training to acquire skills they need to find good, long-term jobs by piloting targeted programming in short-term skills development initiatives.
    • Supporting people in Alberta who have experienced or witnessed racism by providing anti-racism resources in multiple languages.
    • Supporting Indigenous peoples in Alberta to access the post-secondary skills and training they need to pursue further education and find good long-term jobs through supporting Indigenous post-secondary providers and increased funding and programming supports targeted to Indigenous learners.
    • Enabling mentorship programs for internationally trained professionals.
    • Working toward a barrier-free workplace that supports a diversity of perspectives to provide programs and services to meet the diverse needs of Albertans.
    • Updating kindergarten to Grade 12 curriculum to include opportunities for students to learn concepts, topics and issues related to anti-racism, diversity and pluralism.
    • Providing mandatory unconscious bias training for government staff involved in the hiring process and enhancing recruitment strategies to increase diversity through hiring of underrepresented groups.
    • Working with legislation, policies, and best practices to ensure that schools are welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environments.

  • Empowering communities

    • Empowering diverse groups of people to meet and discuss racism and inclusion by creating safe and welcoming spaces.
    • Working with Indigenous and racialized groups and communities throughout the provincial grant process, and continuing to provide grant development and reporting support to First Nations Colleges and Community Adult Learning providers who serve diverse and marginalized populations.
    • Revising Settlement, Integration and Language Projects grant policies to remove barriers to cultural organization applicants and increase focus on community capacity.
    • Working with First Nations and Métis groups and persons throughout the province to address racism in the healthcare system.
    • Including anti-racism on the agenda of the 2023 Premier’s Summit on Fairness for Newcomers.
    • Working with the Health Quality Council of Alberta to engage First Nations and Métis groups to obtain information and recommendations regarding Alberta Health Services’ patient complaints process.

  • Responding to hate incidents and crimes

    • A Provincial Hate Crimes Unit has been established to help coordinate services between jurisdictions and share information about occurrences, trends and risk factors.
    • Hate Crimes Community Liaisons were recruited to put forward recommendations to improve government’s response to addressing hate crimes.
    • Taking action to ensure inclusion and diversity training for law enforcement officers.
    • Continuing to support organizations at risk of being targeted by hate crimes by enabling them to upgrade their facility’s security with funds from the Alberta Security Infrastructure Grant program.
    • Encouraging and working with the federal government to improve hate crimes legislation.

  • Data and measurements

    • Implementing a data ethics and privacy management framework through Alberta’s Data Strategy that will support the collection and analysis of disaggregated race-based data.
    • Assessing the collection of disaggregated race-based data to identify disparities for racialized Albertans and Indigenous peoples in the areas of hiring, wages, and occupation achievements, health outcomes and interaction with the justice system.
    • Reporting to Albertans on government progress towards addressing racism.
    • Commissioning an expert report, specific to Alberta, to set out a framework and any necessary data standards for the creation, collection and use of race-based data that incorporates perspectives of racialized communities and institutions in the province.

Grant programs

  • Anti-Racism Grant – Provides grant funding for activities and initiatives that help address and prevent racism and promote inclusive multicultural communities.
  • Ethnocultural grant – Provides grant funding for initiatives that create intercultural connections and celebration of diversity among ethnocultural and Indigenous groups.

How we got here

People from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds can experience bias, hatred, discrimination and systemic barriers that impact their overall health and well-being and access to jobs, education and public services. In recent years, there has been an increase in hate crimes towards Albertans due to race or ethnicity.

As Alberta’s population becomes increasingly diverse, it is more important than ever to identify and address ways in which the experiences of racialized individuals and Indigenous peoples are impacted.

Alberta Black Advisory Council

In 2024, we established the Alberta Black Advisory Council to focus on addressing racism and systemic barriers faced by Alberta’s Black population.

This work is a key component in helping to build inclusive communities where all people are appreciated, valued, and respected. 

Anti-racism engagement

In 2022, we gathered input from Albertans and Indigenous communities to help ensure future government actions to address racism are effective and inclusive.

We will continue to listen to and work with racialized individuals and Indigenous peoples while implementing this plan.

Alberta Anti-Racism Advisory Council

In 2021, the Alberta Anti-Racism Advisory Council provided a set of recommendations to government on how to implement and evaluate action items to combat racism. 

Those recommendations, along with conversations with groups who are impacted by, or have a role to play in addressing racism, have guided the development of the Anti-Racism Action Plan.

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