The Government of Canada issues
a statement to mark Emancipation Day
OTTAWA,
ON, Aug. 1, 2024 /CNW/ - On Emancipation Day,
we all have a duty of remembrance and action, to ensure that we
never forget our shameful history with slavery and continue our
fight for a more equitable society.
One hundred and ninety years ago, the British Parliament's
Slavery Abolition Act came into force, paving the way for
the liberation of enslaved Africans and their descendants
throughout most of the British Empire. The abolition of slavery in
1834 initiated the process of liberating more than 800,000 people
in Canada, the Caribbean, Africa and South
America who, for centuries prior, were subjected to
unspeakable acts of violence.
The brutal legacy of slavery in Canada is irreversible and its repercussions
are still being felt today. People of African descent continue to
be the target of discrimination and experience systemic racism in
Canada and around the world.
We must use our country's core strength of diversity to strive
for unity and inclusion and prohibit hate and prejudice in all
their forms. The Government of Canada is investing $200 million in
funding to strengthen the capacity of Black communities and
organizations through the Supporting Black Canadian Communities
Initiative. In addition, we have invested over $260 million to
combat systemic racism, discrimination and hate in Canada.
Moreover, as one of the first OECD countries in the world to
recognize the United Nations Decade for People of African Descent,
we have enhanced support for Canadians of African descent by
investing over $872 million to
support Black communities from coast to coast to coast.
As Minister of Diversity, Inclusion, and Persons with
Disabilities, I recognize the strength and tenacity of Black
communities in Canada and around
the world, who have tirelessly fought—and continue to fight—against
racism and discrimination. Hand in hand, let us work together to
build a more just and inclusive society for all.
SOURCE Canadian Heritage