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Racism Statistics Canada

Systemic and institutionalized racism stems directly from our historical legacy. It refers to the embedding of white superiority in an institution's policies and processes, creating a system that privileges white individuals while disadvantaging racialized and Indigenous people, particularly in areas like employment, education, justice, and social involvement.

So what does this imply for us today? The frameworks we presently operate within are rooted in Eurocentric thinking, designed to benefit European settlers while placing Indigenous populations at a disadvantage, subsequently impacting other racialized minorities who migrated to Canada. Numerous doctrines and policies from the past persist, subtly shaping and influencing the ongoing presence of racial discrimination, even if not always overtly visible in practice.

An explicit example of this is how the Indigenous populations are disadvantaged across the health care, educational and judicial systems.


Let’s look at some statistics that demonstrate the systemic and institutional barriers faced by racialized populations across Canada.

 

  • The Black population faces 1.5 times higher unemployment rate.

  • 49% of Black women have experienced discrimination or unfair treatment in the past five years.

  • 43% of Canadians hold unfavourable views of Islam compared to other faiths, while 66% of Muslims surveyed are concerned about discrimination.

  • In 2021, we witnessed a 47% increase in reported anti-Asian racist incidents across Canada.

These numbers reflect how racialized individuals feel coming to work and their sense of safety, inclusion and belonging.

How individuals feel at work affects their health, well-being and quality of life. That’s why making the workplace a safer, more inclusive environment can make all the difference to workers, especially for those who do not have equitable access to healthcare and well-being options.

Source: https://hubs.li/Q02gjtHG0


 

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