While rural Alberta has thankfully been largely spared the plague of racism that has impacted so many places in the United States and some large Canadian centres, work must be ongoing to ensure it doesn’t gain deep footholds in the province’s smaller communities.
And that work must include efforts by all stakeholders, including community organizations, religious leaders, and all levels of government.
The province has recently released a plan to combat and address racism going forward. Whether that plan made today will stop racism from making headway in the province in the months and years to come remains to be seen.
The Anti-Racism Action Plan outlines actions that will help educate Albertans about the value of diversity, remove systemic barriers to accessing government programs and services, and ensure Albertans have equal access to information, resources, services and opportunities, said Kaycee Madu, minister of Labour and Immigration.
“Over the past three years, Alberta’s government has shown a proven track record of dealing with racism, but there is still more to be done in order to end all forms of racism, discrimination and systemic racism once and for all,” he said.
The plan is the work of the Alberta Anti-Racism Advisory Council, which was established to provide advice to the Alberta government on efforts to combat racism and promote more inclusive and accepting communities across Alberta.
Under the plan the government will move to protect vulnerable groups from hate and discrimination, and work with communities large and small to promote social inclusion, diversity and multiculturalism, and cultivate social cohesion, he said.
“On behalf of the Alberta Anti-Racism Advisory Council, we are pleased to see the government of Alberta move forward on actions that will help combat racism in our province” said Mohamad Awada, co-chair of the council.
The fight against racism in Alberta will need be ongoing well into the future. As such, individuals, organizations, political leaders and others should be encouraged and supported to make that happen.
Dan Singleton is an editor with the Albertan.
