About the legislation

On May 2, 2022, government introduced the Anti-Racism Data Act, new legislation aimed at:

• Breaking down barriers for people to access programs;
• Ensuring racialized people aren’t disproportionately targeted;
• Improving programs and services so more people feel safe getting the help they need.
  

The Act became law on June 2, 2022.

The legislation has been informed by the thoughts of more than 13,000 British Columbians through engagement with Indigenous Peoples and racialized communities, as well as key stakeholders such as the B.C. Human Rights Commissioner, First Nations Leadership Council, the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres and Métis Nation BC. It is one of the first pieces of legislation to be co-developed with Indigenous Peoples under the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.

The act focuses on four key areas:

1. Continued collaboration with Indigenous Peoples in a way that recognizes the unique identity of First Nations and Métis communities in B.C.
2. Working with racialized communities in implementing the legislation. This includes the creation of a provincial anti-racism data committee to collaborate with government on how data is collected and used.
3. Increasing transparency and accountability while preventing and reducing harms to Indigenous Peoples and racialized communities.
4. Requiring government to release data on an annual basis, and to periodically review the act.

The Province will continue to work with Indigenous Peoples and racialized communities as we implement this legislation.

To read the legislation in full, visit: https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/22018