Members of Advisory Council on Rights, Equality and Inclusion to be announced at a later date.
The Carney Government is moving on from another aspect of the Trudeau era. The positions of special representatives on combatting Antisemitism and Islamophobia are being scrapped. In their place, a new Advisory Council on Rights, Equality and Inclusion will be formed, with the members of the council to be announced at a later date.
Per a government statement, the council will have the following responsibilities:
- Consulting and partnering with communities from coast to coast to coast to build bridges between communities and combat all forms of racism and hate including antisemitism and Islamophobia
- Bringing together initiatives, civil society and organizations working in the space of social cohesion, to foster greater collaboration, reduce duplication, and better coordinate Canada-wide efforts at protecting rights and social inclusion
- Creating a network of trusted leaders from all communities—including civil society, academia, youth leaders and Indigenous Peoples—to provide expert advice to inform the Council’s work and promote common goals of protecting rights, equality and inclusion among all communities
- Providing reports, studies and other detailed advice to support the Minister
- Consulting on, developing and promoting a common narrative that fosters trust, belonging and understanding among communities
- Working with Indigenous Peoples in support of these goals.
Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture, said the following in a statement:
“The new Advisory Council on Rights, Equality and Inclusion will help build a more inclusive and united Canada; one grounded in our shared values, with a strong focus on community involvement, and rooted in the belief that far more unites us than divides us. By deepening mutual trust, unity, respect and solidarity, we can ensure that every person feels included and valued, and that rights and equality are protected for all Canadians.”
It’s interesting to see the government shift from referring to ‘equity’ to ‘equality.’ While it is a subtle move, it is a signal of a government moving more towards the centre and readjusting after former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sought to push the government further to the left. Further, by removing the high-profile personal positions and shifting the issue back to being under a federal minister, the Carney government is seeking to bring down the temperature.
All in all, this is a wise move and another important step towards a more balanced and moderate government.
Spencer Fernando
If you would like to support my work, you can contribute through PayPal at the button below:
Alternatively, if you would like to support my work on an ongoing basis and gain access to exclusive content, you can subscribe for $6 a month or $72 a year.
Subscribe here.
I am 100% Independent. I don't take government media subsidies, and I never will. My work is funded entirely by readers — no grants, no strings, no obligations to anyone but you.
If you find value in my independent perspective, consider making a donation:
If you want to support my work on a monthly basis and access all of my long-form writing, you can subscribe to my Patreon for $20/month or $216/year.