The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is deeply opposed to racism and continues engagement with community groups and leaders on taking action against it.

This week’s national summits on anti-Semitism and Islamophobia engaged leaders across Canada to speak with a collective voice to stop the spread of racialized hate. While that important national discussion occurs, in Newfoundland and Labrador, the Ministerial Committee on Anti-Racism continues work to develop the necessary tools to stop racism here. The committee includes Ministers of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills; Justice and Public Safety; Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation; and Education.

Progress continues on the following actions:

• Reviewing legislative provisions to identify options to address hate speech in provincial laws;
• Launching an anti-racism and anti-Islamophobia public education campaign, in consultation with cultural organizations and community partners; and
• Commencing a provincial program review to identify and remove systemic racism, in partnership with community representatives.

Actions already underway include:

• Culture and Diversity are embedded throughout large portions of the K-12 social studies curriculum, with significant focus on the issues of acceptance, understanding, equal rights and the negative impacts of racism, among other related topics. Future curriculum updates will build on these topics with a specific lens of anti-racism; and
• Intercultural competency and trauma-informed training is offered to justice-sector employees to educate and inform staff and improve the interactions of people within the justice system.

Recognizing the systemic and persistent nature of racism, ministers are seeking input from members of the public, community and cultural organizations, employers, educators, researchers, and others on their experiences, and recommendations on stopping all forms of racism including; anti-Indigenous, anti-Black, and anti-Asian racism; anti-Semitism; and Islamophobia. Details on the province’s public engagement process will be released in the coming weeks.

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“Our participation in this week’s national summits on anti-Semitism and Islamophobia complement the work already underway here in Newfoundland and Labrador. As we continue progress with ongoing actions and plan for more action still, these national discussions inspire us further toward the ultimate shared goal of stopping racism.”
Honourable Gerry Byrne
Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills

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Media contact
John Tompkins
Immigration, Population Growth and Skills
709-729-0753, 728-7762
jtompkins@gov.nl.ca