ANTI-RACISM, EQUALITY NEW PRIORITIES FOR NDP
While economic recovery and managing the pandemic will be the main government priorities for some time to come, Premier John Horgan loaded up his new cabinet with myriad other assignments as well.
Those were spelled out in mandate letters to each of the 20 ministers, four ministers of state and 13 parliamentary secretaries that Horgan named Thursday.
The to-do lists include holdovers from the first term, like making life affordable, fighting climate change and reconciliation with Indigenous people. But one priority that was given greater priority was anti-racism and equality.
“Racialized and marginalized people face historic and present-day barriers that limit their full participation in their communities, workplaces, government and their lives,” wrote Horgan in a covering letter to all appointees.
“Our government has a moral and ethical responsibility to tackle systemic discrimination in all its forms — and every ministry has a role in this work.”
Granted, the New Democrats elected a record number of women. They also did a superior job recruiting and electing candidates to represent the diversity of the province.
Still, more work remains to be done, says Horgan.
“Delivering on our commitments to address racial discrimination will require a commitment by all of government to ensure increased IBPOC representation within the public service, including in government appointments.”
IBPOC stands for “Indigenous, Black and people of colour,” as the letter spells it out for those unfamiliar with the usage.
The NDP government will continue with the practice, started in the first term, of gender-based plus analysis — all policies and budget decisions are assessed in terms of their impact on women, visible minorities and other designated groups.
The premier assigned other specific tasks, spread over the mandate letter for a number of the appointees.
Rachna Singh, the new parliamentary secretary for anti-racism, and a second-term MLA for Surrey- Green Timbers, is delegated to work with Attorney General David Eby on two initiatives:
“Conduct a full review of anti-racism laws in other jurisdictions and launch a stakeholder consultation to inform the introduction of a new Anti-racism Act.
“Work with the human rights commissioner and other stakeholders on legislation that will pave the way for race-based data collection essential to modernizing sectors like policing, health care and education.”
Such data has been sought after by some authorities to gauge the differing impact of COVID-19 on communities in B.C.
Finance Minister Selina Robinson, whose responsibilities include the public service agency, is directed in her mandate letter to: “Lead efforts to support increased IBPOC representation within government and set targets for IBPOC representation in the public sector.”
The finance minister is also expected to work with Grace Lore, the parliamentary secretary for gender equity, to ensure that goal is reflected in government budgets, policies and programs.
Labour Minister Harry Bains will work with Robinson “to close the gender pay gap by continuing to address systemic discrimination in the workplace and by moving closer to equal pay for equal work through new pay transparency legislation.”
Solicitor general Mike Farnworth has two assignments related to the effort:
“Bring forward recommendations to address systemic racism, create dedicated hate crime units within local police forces, and review training and procedures related to `wellness checks.'
“Develop an action plan to end gender-based violence, including minimum standards for sexual assault response, more training for police, Crown council and justices, and establishing core funding for sexual assault centres.”
Health Minister Adrian Dix, swamped though he is with pandemic-related duties, is also expected to “address systemic racism in the health care system, including by leading work with health employers and unions to prioritize the hiring of a health care workforce that better represents the diverse communities it serves.”
Jobs Minister Ravi Kahlon is directed to work with the parliamentary secretary for technology and innovation, Brenda Bailey, “to help more people from under-represented groups get their first job in the tech sector.”
They will also be prioritizing grants and placements “for women, Indigenous people, people of colour and others currently under-represented in B.C.'S tech sector.”
The premier appointed newly elected MLA Dan Coulter as parliamentary secretary to promote greater accessibility to buildings, housing and public spaces.
He'll engage with business, communities and advocates on new accessibility legislation and advise Attorney General Eby on changes in the building code “that will make buildings more accessible for all people.”
Together those measures amount to a substantial agenda for the Horgan government on anti-racism, equity, diversity and accessibility.
The premier himself has been climbing the learning curve on some of these issues, witness his clumsy answer, quickly corrected, on white privilege during the televised election debate.
But as a point of comparison, the NDP agenda on many of these issues is streets ahead of where the B.C. Liberals have been in the past.
No wonder the governing party has had an easier time than the Liberals recruiting and electing candidates reflecting the greater diversity of B.C.
Horgan loaded up his appointees with many other assignments for the next four years, including substantive changes in forestry, labour legislation and environmental regulation. But that is a topic for another day.
What about the troubled Site C project?
Energy Minister Bruce Ralston is directed to draw on the findings of the yet-tobe-completed independent review of the project, then “ensure the cost and schedule pressures facing construction of the Site C project are addressed in a manner that protects the best interests of British Columbians.”