Black Canadians Push for Historic Anti-Racism Legislation as Petition Nears Milestone

OTTAWA — In a powerful call for justice long overdue, Black Canadians are just 99 signatures away from making history. A federal petition (e-6484) demanding a formal apology and sweeping legislative action against anti-Black racism is heading toward the House of Commons—and the country is watching.

Spearheaded by grassroots activists from Black People United For Change, the petition confronts Canada’s failure to reckon with centuries of systemic violence, from slavery to modern-day hate crimes.

“For generations, we’ve been treated as invisible—unless it’s to criminalize us,” said community advocate and journalist Emma Ansah. “This petition is our line in the sand. We’re not asking. We’re demanding change.”

A History Canada Refuses to Name

Canada often touts itself as a multicultural haven, but Black communities have long experienced a different reality—one defined by state-sanctioned harm and institutional neglect. The petition outlines this legacy, citing the Transatlantic slave trade, segregation, racial profiling, police violence, and ongoing disparities in housing, healthcare, education, and employment.

Cases like the death of Regis Korchinski-Paquet, the jailing of Viola Desmond, and a recent anti-Black hate incident at Toronto’s Exhibition Place serve as painful reminders that Canada’s racism is not just historical—it’s current.

Despite repeated studies, public inquiries, and promises of “diversity and inclusion,” the federal government has never issued a formal apology for anti-Black racism. Nor has it passed any binding legislation to protect Black people from systemic racial violence.

What the Petition Demands

The petition calls for:

• A national apology from the Government of Canada for its role in anti-Black racism and historical oppression
• Enforceable federal legislation to protect Black Canadians from racial hate, profiling, and systemic discrimination
• Deep structural reform across sectors like policing, healthcare, education, housing, and immigration

Supporters argue that existing measures—such as task forces, advisory panels, and public awareness campaigns—are inadequate and often performative.

“We don’t need more ‘Diversity Days,’” said Ansah. “We need policy. We need protection. We need accountability.”

A Moment of Reckoning

With just 99 signatures to go, organizers are urging Canadians of all backgrounds to act.

“Whether you’re Black, Indigenous, racialized, or white—this is your moment to stand up for justice,” said a statement released by petition supporters on social media. “It takes two minutes to sign, but the impact will echo for generations.”

The petition, once it crosses the 500-signature threshold, will be read into the official record in Parliament. Advocates are planning a formal presentation at the House of Commons and a press conference to follow.

For many, the campaign represents more than a petition—it’s a test of whether Canada is truly ready to confront its anti-Black racism and take meaningful, legislative action to dismantle it.

📌 Petitions can be signed until August 19, 2025, at:
👉🏾 https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-6484